biostudies-literaturePagan MNIMH NIH HHS421-429https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11903320biostudies-literatureUnknown639(8054)The ability to flexibly switch our responses to external stimuli according to contextual information is critical for successful interactions with a complex world. Context-dependent computations are necessary across many domains^1-3, yet their neural implementations remain poorly understood. Here we developed a novel behavioural task in rats to study context-dependent selection and accumulation of evidence for decision-making^4-6. Under assumptions supported by both monkey and rat data, we first show mathematically that this computation can be supported by three dynamical solutions and that all networks performing the task implement a combination of these solutions. These solutions can be identified and tested directly with experimental data. We further show that existinNatureIndividual variability of neural computations underlying flexible decisions.PMC11903320R21 MH124383Pagan MPillow JWTang VDSussillo DMante VBrody CDAoi MCfalseIndividual variability of neural computations underlying flexible decisions.The ability to flexibly switch our responses to external stimuli according to contextual information is critical for successful interactions with a complex world. Context-dependent computations are necessary across many domains^1-3, yet their neural implementations remain poorly understood. Here we developed a novel behavioural task in rats to study context-dependent selection and accumulation of evidence for decision-making^4-6. Under assumptions supported by both monkey and rat data, we first show mathematically that this computation can be supported by three dynamical solutions and that all networks performing the task implement a combination of these solutions. These solutions can be identified and tested directly with experimental data. We further show that existin2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-04-04T09:07:52.273Z2025-04-04T09:07:52.273ZS-EPMC119033203960839910.1038/s41586-024-08433-6