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）。目前该选择偏差的产生机制仍未阐明。本研究采用经实证验证的、基于生物物理机制的决策竞争吸引子网络模型，发现前一试次产生的衰减残留活动会诱发选择滞后效应，尤其在难度较高的试次中更为显著，且该模型可精准预测人类的知觉决策选择。在该模型中，通过模拟网络的去极化或超极化刺激，放大或抑制试后活动的衰减过程，即可定向改变决策选择的变异性。采用经颅直流电刺激（transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS）作用于左侧背外侧前额叶皮层（left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dlPFC）的类似干预实验，结果与模型预测高度吻合：净神经元胞体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吸引子网络的残留活动，可能是知觉决策选择偏差的来源，且可通过无创脑刺激实现定向调控。