Neural Correlates of Perceptual Choice and Decision Making during Fear–Disgust Discrimination

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3024-06.2007
• Publication Date: 2007-03-14T16:11:09Z
• Authors: Axel Thielscher; Luiz Pessoa
• Keywords: Disgust; Middle frontal gyrus; Inferior frontal gyrus; Medial frontal gyrus; Superior frontal gyrus; Insular cortex; Superior temporal gyrus; Posterior cingulate; Middle temporal gyrus

In the present study, we tested hypothesis that brain activation would reflect perceptual choices. To probe this question, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a challenging fear-disgust, two-choice discrimination task. We investigated how moment-to-moment fluctuations in fMRI signals were correlated with choice by computing probability index quantified well behavioral could be predicted single-trial amplitude. Our analyses revealed reporting neutral face as "fearful" was associated broad network of regions process emotionally arousing stimuli, whereas "disgusted" focused set sites included putamen and anterior insula. Responses predictive reports not only observed at group level but also single-subject level. Thus, voxel-by-voxel amplitude for an individual participant to reliably predict trials subject. addition investigation choice, isolated neural correlates decision making per se using reaction time processes. Overall, our findings responses dynamically shifted according addition, involved least cingulate cortex, middle frontal gyrus, inferior gyrus/insula, consistent recent proposals decisions may emerge from distributed