The neural encoding of guesses in the human brain

Stefan Bode, Carsten Bogler, Chun Siong Soon, John Dylan Haynes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Human perception depends heavily on the quality of sensory information. When objects are hard to see we often believe ourselves to be purely guessing. Here we investigated whether such guesses use brain networks involved in perceptual decision making or independent networks. We used a combination of fMRI and pattern classification to test how visibility affects the signals, which determine choices. We found that decisions regarding clearly visible objects are predicted by signals in sensory brain regions, whereas different regions in parietal cortex became predictive when subjects were shown invisible objects and believed themselves to be purely guessing. This parietal network was highly overlapping with regions, which have previously been shown to encode free decisions. Thus, the brain might use a dedicated network for determining choices when insufficient sensory information is available.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1924-1931
Number of pages8
JournalNeuroImage
Volume59
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 16 2012

Keywords

  • Decision making
  • Free decisions
  • Guessing
  • Multivariate decoding
  • Precuneus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

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