A supramodal accumulation-to-bound signal that determines perceptual decisions in humans
Abstract
In theoretical accounts of perceptual decision-making, a decision variable integrates noisy sensory evidence and determines action through a boundary-crossing criterion. Signals bearing these very properties have been characterized in single neurons in monkeys, but have yet to be directly identified in humans. Using a gradual target detection task, we isolated a freely evolving decision variable signal in human subjects that exhibited every aspect of the dynamics observed in its single-neuron counterparts. This signal could be continuously tracked in parallel with fully dissociable sensory encoding and motor preparation signals, and could be systematically perturbed mid-flight during decision formation. Furthermore, we found that the signal was completely domain general: it exhibited the same decision-predictive dynamics regardless of sensory modality and stimulus features and tracked cumulative evidence even in the absence of overt action. These findings provide a uniquely clear view on the neural determinants of simple perceptual decisions in humans.
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The P3 may encode motivationally significant events, which in the present study were the saliently colored/ethnic Black hands during SRC processing.
“This suggests that the P3 may encode motivationally significant events, which, in the present study, were the saliently colored/ethnic Black hands during SRC processing, potentially contributing to a dynamic decision process of linking perception to action31,42–45”
From Event-related potentials of automatic imitation are modulated by ethnicity during stimulus processing, but not during motor execution (2018) · cites this paper as [45]
The role of the P3 component lies in bridging stimulus perception and response execution in a dynamically evolving decision process.
“It has been suggested that the role of the P3 component lies in bridging stimulus perception and response execution31,44 in a dynamically evolving decision process, linking sensory encoding of stimulus perception to the preparation of action42,43,45, and/or response control44.”
From Event-related potentials of automatic imitation are modulated by ethnicity during stimulus processing, but not during motor execution (2018) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- O'Connell, R. G., Dockree, P. M., & Kelly, S. P.
- Affiliations
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- City College of New York (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kelly, Simon P
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2012-10-28
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1729-1735
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W2048524988
- Cited by
- 755
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 53 · 2025: 67 · 2024: 62 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 75 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 15
- FWCI
- 15.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Keywords
- perceptual decision making, decision variables, motor preparation, single neuron model
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Adolescent, Auditory Perception, Decision Making, Female, Humans, Male, Motion Perception, Photic Stimulation, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Signal Transduction, Young Adult
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