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Neuronal mechanisms of dynamic strategic competition
Yaoguang Jiang1, Kelsey R McDonald2, John M Pearson2,3,4
1Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Research Square
|March 30, 2023
Summary
Strategic competition in humans and monkeys relies on understanding opponents. Neurons in the mid-superior temporal sulcus (mSTS) track self and opponent states, crucial for tactical decision-making in social interactions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- Strategic social interactions, like those in games, require anticipating an opponent's actions based on their mental states (theory-of-mind).
- The neural underpinnings of strategic competition, particularly the brain regions involved in processing opponent information and guiding tactical decisions, are not well understood.
Approach:
- A virtual soccer game was developed to study continuous competitive interactions in humans and monkeys.
- Gaussian Process (GP) classification was employed to segment gameplay into discrete decisions based on evolving self and opponent states.
- Neuronal activity in the macaque mid-superior temporal sulcus (mSTS), a region analogous to the human temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), was analyzed.
Key Points:
- Both humans and monkeys exhibited similar competitive strategies and tactics, characterized by unpredictable movements and precise timing.
- Two distinct neuronal populations in the mSTS were identified, encoding information about self/opponent actions, state changes, and trial outcomes.
- Inactivation of the mSTS led to decreased unpredictability in kicking actions and reduced responsiveness in goalkeeping.
Conclusions:
- The mSTS plays a critical role in strategic competition by integrating information about current self/opponent states and past interactions.
- These findings in macaques provide insights into the neural mechanisms supporting strategic social behavior, aligning with observations in the human TPJ.
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