Multiple brain activation patterns for the same perceptual decision-making task.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Characterizing variations in internal brain states that influence cognition and behavior is difficult.
• Understanding how the brain accomplishes tasks with consistent outcomes but potentially different neural processes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether distinct brain region activation patterns occur on different trials within the same task.
• To explore the neural basis of task accomplishment using functional MRI (fMRI) data.

Main Methods:

• Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to record brain-wide signals during three perceptual decision-making experiments.
• Trial-to-trial brain activation fluctuations were analyzed.
• Modularity-maximization clustering was applied to group trials based on activation similarity.

Main Results:

• Multiple distinct and stable trial subtypes were identified across all experiments.
• One subtype showed significant default mode network (DMN) activation, contrary to expectations for attention-demanding tasks.
• Other subtypes exhibited activation in task-positive networks, yet the DMN subtype showed similar behavioral performance.

Conclusions:

• The same perceptual decision-making task can be executed via multiple, distinct brain activation patterns.
• This suggests greater neural flexibility and hidden variability in cognitive processes than previously understood.
• The role of the default mode network during task performance may be more complex than typically assumed.