Rodriguez, Christian

This presentation was based on his paper in PLoS 2014 qv.

Abstract for Christian's FriSem of March 7 2014

Determining the subjective value of future outcomes is a component of many important life decisions. For example, choosing a career path requires evaluating potential job satisfaction several years ahead. Decisions that involve this type of evaluation are known as intertemporal choices.

Although intertemporal choices have been the focus of much research, an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie action selection has not been achieved. We investigated the neural processes supporting intertemporal choice using a combination of fMRI and EEG.

We first establish that a delay-discounted value integration process might be implemented in the brain to translate subjective value into action. We then use a computational model of value-integration to predict trial-to-trial variability in neural activity.

This approach allowed us to identify a frontoparietal network of cortical regions associated with value-integration. This frontoparietal network included the posterior parietal (pPC),

dorsomedial frontal (dmFC) and lateral prefrontal (lPFC) cortex. Further analyses of neural activity and functional connectivity dynamics dissociated the pPC and lPFC from a value-integration function. We show that only the dmFC may integrate delay-discounted value to guide behavior.

In contrast, the pPC is specifically involved with the processing of reward information and the encoding of subjective value in combination with ventromdial prefrontal cortex. Our results also suggests that the lPFC supports a value-related working memory function during intertemporal choice. These findings establish a mechanistic basis for understanding complex intertemporal choice phenomena, such as self-control.

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