Neurons in human pre-supplementary motor area encode key computations for value-based choice

Tomas Aquino, Jeffrey Cockburn, Adam Mamelak, Ueli Rutishauser, John O'Doherty

Abstract:

Adaptive behaviour in real-world environments requires that choices
integrate several variables, including the novelty of the options under
consideration, their expected value and uncertainty in value estimation.
Here, to probe how integration over decision variables occurs during
decision-making, we recorded neurons from the human pre-supplementary
motor area (preSMA), ventromedial prefrontal cortex and dorsal anterior
cingulate. Unlike the other areas, preSMA neurons not only represented
separate pre-decision variables for each choice option but also encoded
an integrated utility signal for each choice option and, subsequently, the
decision itself. Post-decision encoding of variables for the chosen option
was more widely distributed and especially prominent in the ventromedial
prefrontal cortex. Our fndings position the human preSMA as central to the
implementation of value-based decisions.