Functional localization and categorization of intentional decisions in humans: A meta-analysis of brain imaging studies

Ruoguang Si,James B Rowe,Jiaxiang Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118468

Ruoguang Si, James B Rowe + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118468

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Journal: NeuroImage	Publication Date: Aug 11, 2021
Citations: 17	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Cardiff University, University of Cambridge

Abstract

Brain-imaging research on intentional decision-making often employs a “free-choice” paradigm, in which participants choose among options with identical values or outcomes. Although the medial prefrontal cortex has commonly been associated with choices, there is no consensus on the wider network that underlies diverse intentional decisions and behaviours. Our systematic literature search identified 35 fMRI/PET experiments using various free-choice paradigms, with appropriate control conditions using external instructions. An Activation Likelihood Estimate (ALE) meta-analysis showed that, compared with external instructions, intentional decisions consistently activate the medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the left insula and the inferior parietal lobule. We then categorized the studies into four different types according to their experimental designs: reactive motor intention, perceptual intention, inhibitory intention, and cognitive intention. We conducted conjunction and contrast meta-analyses to identify consistent and selective spatial convergence of brain activation within each specific category of intentional decision. Finally, we used meta-analytic decoding to probe cognitive processes underlying free choices. Our findings suggest that the neurocognitive process underlying intentional decision incorporates anatomically separated components subserving distinct cognitive and computational roles.

Highlights

To fulfil our goals or desires, we constantly interact with the external environment through our voluntary behaviour
Behavioural performance can be evaluated in other ways, for example using response time and the proportion of valid response. The latter applies to experiments (e.g., Zhang et al, 2012) in which participants make a free choice from M available options when there is a total of N options
The analysis identified 19 peaks in 7 clusters, including bilateral pre-supplementary motor area, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), bilateral dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL), right premotor area and left anterior insula cortex (AIC) (Table 2, p < 0.01, cluster-level corrected)

Summary

Introduction

To fulfil our goals or desires, we constantly interact with the external environment through our voluntary behaviour. The concept of intentional decision refers to this fundamental ability of human cognition: acting voluntarily based on internal or endogenous intentions (Marken, 1982). At one extreme lies externally guided perceptual decision such as stopping at a red traffic light, for which the involvement of internal intention is low because learned rules can dictate a correct choice (even if one can voluntarily break such rules). In between lies the common scenario of intentional decision-making, where the external environment constrains only which options are available while internal intentions dictate which of those options to choose. The ability to choose actions, cognitive strategies and behaviours in this way plays a key role throughout the life span and is essential to our understanding of human cognition. Intentional behaviour is a foundation of social interactions via cooperation and collaboration (Bratman, 2017)

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