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Christian Ruff

Jun 22, 2015 | 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

"Neural evidence accumulation in perceptual vs value-based decision making" 

Our choices can be guided by both perceptual information about the environment (what is the food in front of me?) and value-related information about our subjective preferences (do I like it?). Theoretical accounts suggest that both types of decisions involve neural computations accumulating evidence for the choice alternatives; however, little is known about the overlap or differences in the processes underlying perceptual versus value-based choice. In my talk, I will present a series of studies designed to address this issue. An EEG experiment identifies candidate neural signals for evidence accumulation processes in both domains. A subsequent tACS experiment demonstrates that some of these processes are causally required for value-based choices. Further model-based fMRI work identifies mechanisms by which effects of stimulus magnitude are differentially incorporated into both types of decisions, and suggests that brain representations thought to be unique for value-based choice are in fact also closely involved in perceptual choices when these have similar task demands. Taken together, these studies outline a unified neuro-computational framework for both perceptual and value-based decision-making.

Time & Location

Jun 22, 2015 | 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

KL32/202