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The subthalamic nucleus contributes causally to perceptual decision-making in monkeys
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 22, 2024
Summary
The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is crucial for decision-making. This study reveals the STN
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a key component of the basal ganglia (BG).
- Its precise roles in decision-making under uncertainty remain unclear.
- Understanding STN function is vital for cognitive and motor control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal and computational roles of the STN in decision-making.
- To examine STN neuron activity during visual-saccadic decisions with noisy evidence.
- To test theoretical predictions about STN contributions to decision processes.
Main Methods:
- Single-unit recordings in the STN of healthy monkeys.
- Electrical microstimulation of the STN during a visual-saccadic task.
- Analysis of neuronal activity and behavioral choices.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct STN neuron subpopulations with task-related activity.
- Microstimulation modulated behavioral choices and response times.
- Evidence for STN's role in modulating decision bounds and evidence accumulation.
Conclusions:
- The STN plays multiple, complex roles in decision-making processes.
- Results support the "accumulate-to-bound" model of decision-making.
- Provides new insights into STN's contribution to higher brain functions.
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