Dynamic modulation of decision biases by brainstem arousal systems

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dynamic modulation of decision biases by brainstem arousal systems

AU - de Gee, Jan Willem

AU - Colizoli, Olympia

AU - Kloosterman, Niels A

AU - Knapen, Tomas

AU - Nieuwenhuis, Sander

AU - Donner, Tobias H

PY - 2017/4/11

Y1 - 2017/4/11

N2 - Decision-makers often arrive at different choices when faced with repeated presentations of the same evidence. Variability of behavior is commonly attributed to noise in the brain's decision-making machinery. We hypothesized that phasic responses of brainstem arousal systems are a significant source of this variability. We tracked pupil responses (a proxy of phasic arousal) during sensory-motor decisions in humans, across different sensory modalities and task protocols. Large pupil responses generally predicted a reduction in decision bias. Using fMRI, we showed that the pupil-linked bias reduction was (i) accompanied by a modulation of choice-encoding pattern signals in parietal and prefrontal cortex and (ii) predicted by phasic, pupil-linked responses of a number of neuromodulatory brainstem centers involved in the control of cortical arousal state, including the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. We conclude that phasic arousal suppresses decision bias on a trial-by-trial basis, thus accounting for a significant component of the variability of choice behavior.

AB - Decision-makers often arrive at different choices when faced with repeated presentations of the same evidence. Variability of behavior is commonly attributed to noise in the brain's decision-making machinery. We hypothesized that phasic responses of brainstem arousal systems are a significant source of this variability. We tracked pupil responses (a proxy of phasic arousal) during sensory-motor decisions in humans, across different sensory modalities and task protocols. Large pupil responses generally predicted a reduction in decision bias. Using fMRI, we showed that the pupil-linked bias reduction was (i) accompanied by a modulation of choice-encoding pattern signals in parietal and prefrontal cortex and (ii) predicted by phasic, pupil-linked responses of a number of neuromodulatory brainstem centers involved in the control of cortical arousal state, including the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. We conclude that phasic arousal suppresses decision bias on a trial-by-trial basis, thus accounting for a significant component of the variability of choice behavior.

KW - Journal Article

KW - POM-Newsletter

U2 - 10.7554/eLife.23232

DO - 10.7554/eLife.23232

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 28383284

VL - 6

SP - e23232

JO - ELIFE

JF - ELIFE

SN - 2050-084X

ER -