Large-scale neural systems linking bodily self-awareness and valuation in decision-making

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Decision-making
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Adaptive decision-making integrates reward valuation with internal bodily and action signals.
• Reward-centric models do not fully capture the neural architecture of decision-making.
• Bodily self-awareness, encompassing interoception and sense of agency, may influence reward-driven behavior, but its neural organization and clinical relevance are unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the systems-level relationship between neural circuits supporting bodily self-awareness and reward valuation.
• To examine the large-scale neural organization linking interoception, sense of agency, and cognitive impulsivity.
• To explore alterations in this neural architecture in individuals with cocaine use disorder.

Main Methods:

• Combined three coordinate-based meta-analyses of functional neuroimaging studies (interoception, agency, impulsivity).
• Re-analyzed resting-state functional connectivity datasets from healthy individuals and those with cocaine use disorder.
• Utilized systems-level analysis to map neural convergence and divergence between self-awareness and valuation networks.

Main Results:

• Interoception and agency converged in insular and salience network regions.
• Cognitive impulsivity engaged distinct fronto-striatal and default mode network regions.
• Altered organization in cocaine use disorder: reduced caudate nucleus integration with interoceptive/agency networks and increased coupling with impulsivity circuits.

Conclusions:

• Identified a large-scale neural architecture linking bodily self-awareness and valuation systems.
• Demonstrated functional differentiation between bodily self-awareness and valuation processes at the network level.
• Cocaine use disorder is associated with altered integration within this neural architecture.