Data from: Response repetition biases in human perceptual decisions are explained by activity decay in competitive attractor models

Animals and humans have a tendency to repeat recent choices, a phenomenon known as choice hysteresis. The mechanism for this choice bias remains unclear. Using an established, biophysically informed model of a competitive attractor network for decision making, we found that decaying tail activity from the previous trial caused choice hysteresis, especially during difficult trials, and accurately predicted human perceptual choices. In the model, choice variability could be directionally altered through amplification or dampening of post-trial activity decay through simulated depolarizing or hyperpolarizing network stimulation. An analogous intervention using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) yielded a close match between model predictions and experimental results: net soma depolarizing currents increased choice hysteresis, while hyperpolarizing currents suppressed it. Residual activity in competitive attractor networks within dlPFC may thus give rise to biases in perceptual choices, which can be directionally controlled through non-invasive brain stimulation.

动物与人类均存在重复近期决策选择的倾向，该现象被称为选择滞后效应（choice hysteresis）。目前该选择偏差的作用机制仍未明确。本研究采用一套已成熟的、基于生物物理机制的决策任务竞争性吸引子网络（competitive attractor network）模型，发现前一试次的残留衰减活动会诱发选择滞后效应，尤其在困难决策试次中更为显著，且该模型可精准预测人类的知觉决策结果。在该模型中，通过模拟去极化或超极化的网络刺激，放大或抑制试后活动衰减过程，即可从方向上调控决策变异性。针对左侧背外侧前额叶皮层（dlPFC）实施经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）的同类干预实验，所得结果与模型预测高度吻合：神经元胞体净去极化电流会增强选择滞后效应，而超极化电流则会抑制该效应。由此可见，左侧背外侧前额叶皮层内竞争性吸引子网络的残留活动，可能是知觉决策偏差的来源，且该偏差可通过无创脑刺激实现定向调控。