Cited by 47Neural dynamics and brain functionVisual perception and processing mechanismsNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Dynamic Excitatory and Inhibitory Gain Modulation Can Produce Flexible, Robust and Optimal Decision-making

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Niyogi, Ritwik K., Wong-Lin, KongFatt·2013·PLoS Computational Biology

Abstract

Behavioural and neurophysiological studies in primates have increasingly shown the involvement of urgency signals during the temporal integration of sensory evidence in perceptual decision-making. Neuronal correlates of such signals have been found in the parietal cortex, and in separate studies, demonstrated attention-induced gain modulation of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Although previous computational models of decision-making have incorporated gain modulation, their abstract forms do not permit an understanding of the contribution of inhibitory gain modulation. Thus, the effects of co-modulating both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal gains on decision-making dynamics and behavioural performance remain unclear. In this work, we incorporate time-dependent co-modulation of the gains of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons into our previous biologically based decision circuit model. We base our computational study in the context of two classic motion-discrimination tasks performed in animals. Our model shows that by simultaneously increasing the gains of both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, a variety of the observed dynamic neuronal firing activities can be replicated. In particular, the model can exhibit winner-take-all decision-making behaviour with higher firing rates and within a significantly more robust model parameter range. It also exhibits short-tailed reaction time distributions even when operating near a dynamical bifurcation point. The model further shows that neuronal gain modulation can compensate for weaker recurrent excitation in a decision neural circuit, and support decision formation and storage. Higher neuronal gain is also suggested in the more cognitively demanding reaction time than in the fixed delay version of the task. Using the exact temporal delays from the animal experiments, fast recruitment of gain co-modulation is shown to maximize reward rate, with a timescale that is surprisingly near the experimentally fitted value. Our work provides insights into the simultaneous and rapid modulation of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal gains, which enables flexible, robust, and optimal decision-making.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003099

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  • A cortical circuit model of decision-making indicates dynamic co-modulation of both excitatory and inhibitory gain produces a more stable and robust network, allowing more flexible and cognitively demanding decision-making, and gain modulation can compensate for weaker recurrent excitation.

    “A cortical circuit model of decision-making indicates that dynamic co-modulation of both excitatory and inhibitory gain produces a more stable and robust network, allowing for more flexible and cognitively demanding decision-making, and that gain modulation can compensate for weaker recurrent excitation218.”

    From Mechanisms underlying gain modulation in the cortex (2020) · cites this paper as [218]

  • Gain increases may optimize signal discrimination in presence of external noise by facilitating attractor dynamics and promoting a winner-take-all mechanism.

    “Gain increases may optimize signal discrimination in the presence of external noise by facilitating attractor dynamics218 and promoting a winner-take-all mechanism219,220.”

    From Mechanisms underlying gain modulation in the cortex (2020) · cites this paper as [218]

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  1. [5]Shadlen MN, Gold JI (2004) The neurophysiology of decision-making as a window on cognition. In: Gazzaniga MS, editor, The Cognitive Neurosciences, 3rd edition. MIT Press.

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Authors
Niyogi, R. K., & Wong-Lin, K.
Affiliations
Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit (GB)
Corresponding author
Niyogi, Ritwik K.
Venue
PLoS Computational Biology
Published
2013-06-27
Volume
9
Issue
6
Pages
e1003099
ISSN
  • 1553-734X (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7358
OpenAlex
W2037631770
Cited by
47
References
97
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6
FWCI
1.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Computational Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ulster University Research Portal (Ulster University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Princeton University
  • Gatsby Charitable Foundation
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH62196, P50MH062196)
  • Air Force Research Laboratory (FA9550-07-1-0537, FA9550)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
perceptual decision making, gain modulation, excitatory and inhibitory neurons, winner-take-all dynamics, motion discrimination, reaction time distribution, dynamical bifurcation, recurrent excitation, parietal cortex
MeSH terms
Decision Making, Humans, Models, Theoretical, Reaction Time, Task Performance and Analysis

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