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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
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Published on: August 4, 2022
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A Movement-Independent Signature of Urgency during Human Perceptual Decision-Making
Harvey McCone1, Ciara A Devine1, Emmet McNickle1,2
1Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin D02PN40, Ireland.
Summary
The brain uses a unique electroencephalogram (EEG) signal to track decision urgency, independent of motor planning. This signal helps speed up cognitive deliberation, not just actions, for faster decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Decision Making
Background:
- Computational models propose 'urgency' processes in time-constrained decisions, reducing evidence needed for commitment.
- Previous human studies localized urgency signals to motor-planning brain areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize a novel electrophysiological signal reflecting dynamic urgency in human decision-making.
- Investigate if this urgency signal is independent of motor planning and evidence strength.
- Determine if urgency signals hasten cognitive deliberation beyond motor execution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three complementary experiments in human participants (male and female).
- Employed electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain activity.
- Analyzed neural signals for urgency-specific properties, including response cue deferral.
Main Results:
- Identified an EEG signal representing urgency alone, increasing with time, not evidence strength.
- Observed this signal peaking and decaying before response execution, even when actions were delayed.
- Demonstrated that urgency processes operate across various perceptual choices and are model-independent.
Conclusions:
- The brain utilizes a motor-independent urgency signal to expedite cognitive deliberation.
- This urgency signal can be monitored non-invasively using EEG.
- Urgency processes are crucial for timely decision completion in diverse scenarios.
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