Understanding how the brain makes decisions
The average human brain makes tens of thousands of decisions each and every day. While some of these decisions may be reward-based, the majority fall within the category of intentional decisions – those choices we make based on voluntary, internal intention. Although this ‘freedom to choose’ is a fundamental aspect of what it means to be human, we know surprisingly little about how it works. By unravelling the neuro-computational mechanisms of intentional decision-making, the EU-funded FREEMIND project aims to help fill this knowledge gap. The project set out to understand how the brain implements key computational operations during the decision-making process and to determine the extent to which internal and external factors can change intentional decisions within individuals. “This knowledge holds the potential to deepen our understanding of human behaviour, paving the way for advancements in such fields as psychology, neuroscience and decision science,” says Jiaxiang Zhang, a researcher at Cardiff University and FREEMIND project coordinator.
Combining imaging modalities with computational modelling
The project, which received support from the European Research Council, utilised a wide range of brain imaging modalities, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetoencephalography/electroencephalogram (MEG/EEG). These modalities were then integrated with a multilevel computational modelling approach. “Combining these diverse methodologies gives us a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain functions,” explains Zhang. “It also allows us to tackle complex research questions that span from psychological processes to neural population dynamics.”
Important new insights
While these methods and technologies are important, Zhang says the project’s true stars are the team of exceptional research associates and PhD students. “Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in driving our progress and achieving meaningful results,” he adds. Amongst those results is compelling evidence that decision-making in humans displays significant variability across individuals. “Our research proved that a brain network centred in the medial prefrontal cortex is involved in the intentional decision-making process,” remarks Zhang. “Furthermore, we showed that the individual variability of decision performance relates to the tissue microstructure as quantified by diffusion-weighted MRI.” The project also demonstrated that human behavioural performance in a wide range of decision-making paradigms can be effectively characterised using a standardised computational framework.
Further research ahead
According to Zhang, the FREEMIND project’s findings not only underscored the intricate nature of cognitive processes, they also motivated his team to delve deeper into the topic of inter-individual variability in human cognition. Plans are already under way to conduct further research aimed at shedding new light on the origins of this variability. The research team is also looking to explore the potential of individual variability as a reliable behavioural marker – research that could determine whether specific patterns of variability in decision-making and cognitive processes can serve as robust indicators of individual traits or predispositions. “This investigation has the potential to inform the development of novel assessment tools that can efficiently and accurately characterise an individual’s cognitive profile,” concludes Zhang.
Keywords
FREEMIND, brain, decision-making, human behaviour, psychology, neuroscience, decision science, brain imaging, computational modelling, MRI
