Postle Ch.16 Exam Questions Decision Making

Multiple Choice

1. Microstimulation studies of area MT/V5 and area LIP have shown that the former is more closely associated with which construct from perceptual decision making?
   1. Momentary evidence
   2. Accumulated evidence
   3. Moving the decision boundary closer to the starting point
   4. Decreasing the perceived motion coherence
2. According to the neural network model of perceptual decision making from Lo and Wang (2006), what is the neural correlate of the distance-to-threshold parameter of the drift diffusion model?
   1. The strength of lateral inhibition between left- and right-hemisphere LIP
   2. The excitability of MT/V5
   3. The strength of coriticostriatal synapses
   4. The tonic firing rate of the GPi
3. What is a likely factor explaining why decision making in adolescents can be “riskier” than decision making in adults?
   1. The lag in maturation of the intraparietal sulcus relative to the basal ganglia
   2. The lag in maturation of the orbitofrontal PFC relative to the basal ganglia
   3. The lag in maturation of the basal ganglia relative to the dorsolateral PFC
   4. The lag in maturation of the dorsolateral PFC relative to the basal ganglia
4. According to models of foraging, activity in dorsomedial PFC/ACC is best understood as reflecting:
   1. Response conflict
   2. Encounter value; search value; search cost
   3. A common currency representation of value
   4. Error monitoring
5. Choice probability refers to:
   1. The likelihood that a saccade will be made to a particular target during a free choice task
   2. The likelihood that evidence accumulation will reach the decision threshold
   3. The likelihood that the tonic inhibition that the substantia nigra pars reticulata imposes on the superior colliculus will be lifted in time to select a saccade
   4. A statistical estimate of the extent to which the information contained in a neural signal predicts a decision

Short Answer / Fill-in-the-blank

1. In a drift-diffusion model, _____ corresponds to the slope of the random walker and _____ to the threshold that triggers the commitment to a decision.
2. What two variables are the primary determinants of any value-based decision?
3. If I am willing to trade three of my apples for two of your pears, I have demonstrated what aspect of value-based decisions?
4. Regions of the vmPFC are equally sensitive to social reward and money. What aspect of value-based decisions does this demonstrate?
5. What are the three factors that go into foraging decisions?
6. The fact that ramping activity in LIP neurons is sensitive to the size of reward that an eye movement will produce is a neural correlate of what construct from neuroeconomics?

Essay / Longer Answer

1. Describe a drift-diffusion model of decision making. What are the two critical variables in the model that determine how quickly a decision will be made?
2. What is the difference between momentary evidence and accumulated evidence in perceptual decision making? For decisions about the direction of motion in a display of moving dots, what brain areas are associated with each?
3. How does the controversy about whether LIP or the neostriatum makes more important contributions to perceptual decision making highlight the importance of action in the decision-making process?
4. What is meant by “common currency” in neuroeconomics? What brain region(s) seem to represent this construct?
5. What is the difference between perceptual decisions, value decisions and foraging decisions? What are the principal neural systems involved in each?
6. Explain the idea of a “saccade value map.” How does it differ from that of a “salience map” (or “priority map”)?