Work

Disruption of Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Decreases Model-Based in Favor of Model-free Control in Humans

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Human choice behavior often reflects a competition between inflexible computationally efficient control on the one hand and a slower more flexible system of control on the other. This distinction is well captured by model-free and model-based reinforcement learning algorithms. Here, studying human subjects, we show it is possible to shift the balance of control between these systems by disruption of right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, such that participants manifest a dominance of the less optimal model-free control. In contrast, disruption of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex impaired model-based performance only in those participants with low working memory capacity.

Source: Neuron

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.08.009

Authors: Peter Smittenaar, Thomas H.B. FitzGerald, Vincenzo Romei, Nicholas D. Wright, Raymond J. Dolan

Institutions: Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, University of Essex

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,205

Funders: Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale School of Medicine, Wellcome Trust