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Nuclei accumbens phase synchrony predicts decision-making reversals following negative feedback.

ABSTRACT: The nucleus accumbens plays a key role in reinforcement-guided behaviors. Here, we report that electrophysiological oscillatory phase synchrony between the two nuclei accumbens may play a crucial role in using negative feedback to guide decision making. We recorded local field potentials from the human nucleus accumbens and the medial frontal cortex (via surface EEG) from patients who had deep brain stimulation electrodes implanted. Patients performed a reversal learning task in which they decided whether to alter their decision strategy following monetary losses. Strategy switches following losses were preceded by enhanced theta (4-8 Hz) phase synchrony between the nuclei accumbens, and a break-down of gamma (20-80 Hz)-alpha (8-12 Hz) coupling. Furthermore, the strength of the intersite phase synchrony predicted response time adjustments in the subsequent trial. These findings suggest that a neural network including the nucleus accumbens bilaterally becomes functionally connected via theta phase synchrony to signal the need to adjust behavior.

SUBMITTER: Cohen MX

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2725399 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Nuclei accumbens phase synchrony predicts decision-making reversals following negative feedback.

Cohen Michael X MX Axmacher Nikolai N Lenartz Doris D Elger Christian E CE Sturm Volker V Schlaepfer Thomas E TE

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience 20090601 23

The nucleus accumbens plays a key role in reinforcement-guided behaviors. Here, we report that electrophysiological oscillatory phase synchrony between the two nuclei accumbens may play a crucial role in using negative feedback to guide decision making. We recorded local field potentials from the human nucleus accumbens and the medial frontal cortex (via surface EEG) from patients who had deep brain stimulation electrodes implanted. Patients performed a reversal learning task in which they decid ...[more]

PMID: 19515927

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Project description:Study objectivesTo better understand the sometimes catastrophic effects of sleep loss on naturalistic decision making, we investigated effects of sleep deprivation on decision making in a reversal learning paradigm requiring acquisition and updating of information based on outcome feedback.DesignSubjects were randomized to a sleep deprivation or control condition, with performance testing at baseline, after 2 nights of total sleep deprivation (or rested control), and following 2 nights of recovery sleep. Subjects performed a decision task involving initial learning of go and no go response sets followed by unannounced reversal of contingencies, requiring use of outcome feedback for decisions. A working memory scanning task and psychomotor vigilance test were also administered.SettingSix consecutive days and nights in a controlled laboratory environment with continuous behavioral monitoring.SubjectsTwenty-six subjects (22-40 y of age; 10 women).InterventionsThirteen subjects were randomized to a 62-h total sleep deprivation condition; the others were controls.Measurements and resultsUnlike controls, sleep deprived subjects had difficulty with initial learning of go and no go stimuli sets and had profound impairment adapting to reversal. Skin conductance responses to outcome feedback were diminished, indicating blunted affective reactions to feedback accompanying sleep deprivation. Working memory scanning performance was not significantly affected by sleep deprivation. And although sleep deprived subjects showed expected attentional lapses, these could not account for impairments in reversal learning decision making.ConclusionsSleep deprivation is particularly problematic for decision making involving uncertainty and unexpected change. Blunted reactions to feedback while sleep deprived underlie failures to adapt to uncertainty and changing contingencies. Thus, an error may register, but with diminished effect because of reduced affective valence of the feedback or because the feedback is not cognitively bound with the choice. This has important implications for understanding and managing sleep loss-induced cognitive impairment in emergency response, disaster management, military operations, and other dynamic real-world settings with uncertain outcomes and imperfect information.

Dataset Information

Nuclei accumbens phase synchrony predicts decision-making reversals following negative feedback.

Publications

Nuclei accumbens phase synchrony predicts decision-making reversals following negative feedback.

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