A neural mechanism for terminating decisions

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• Adam Triabhall
• Wednesday 12 June 2024, 14:00-15:00
• https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/92612577704?pwd=MUtqMjVQdXNmUTVIYjRkMG1NUW9GZz09.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Adam Triabhall.

This week we will discuss and debate a very recent paper by Stine and colleagues, published in Neuron (2023).

Abstract: “The brain makes decisions by accumulating evidence until there is enough to stop and choose. Neural mechanisms of evidence accumulation are established in association cortex, but the site and mechanism of termination are unknown. Here, we show that the superior colliculus (SC) plays a causal role in terminating decisions, and we provide evidence for a mechanism by which this occurs. We recorded simultaneously from neurons in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) and SC while monkeys made perceptual decisions. Despite similar trial-averaged activity, we found distinct single-trial dynamics in the two areas: LIP displayed drift-diffusion dynamics and SC displayed bursting dynamics. We hypothesized that the bursts manifest a threshold mechanism applied to signals represented in LIP to terminate the decision. Consistent with this hypothesis, SC inactivation produced behavioral effects diagnostic of an impaired threshold sensor and prolonged the buildup of activity in LIP . The results reveal the transformation from deliberation to commitment” (Stine et al., 2023).

Reference: Stine, G. M., Trautmann, E. M., Jeurissen, D., & Shadlen, M. N. (2023). A neural mechanism for terminating decisions. Neuron, 111(16), 2601-2613.

This talk is part of the The Craik Journal Club series.

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• The Craik Journal Club
• https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/92612577704?pwd=MUtqMjVQdXNmUTVIYjRkMG1NUW9GZz09
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