The role of the frontal cortex in selecting strategic actions

额叶皮层在选择战略行动中的作用

• 批准号: 312382-2009
• 负责人: Dorris, Michael
• 金额: $ 2.2万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=457396
• 关键词: role; frontal; cortex; selecting; strategic

My research investigates how the brain makes decisions. Most research into this issue examines the brain processes involved in choosing actions that are guided by sensory cues such as when navigating a traffic light. Green means go. Red means stop. Many of our every day decisions, however, are not as straightforward because no option is uniquely 'correct'. This is particularly true in competitive situations in which the outcome of our actions depends not only on our own choice but that of opponents. Common examples include a game of tag, a penalty-shot in hockey, placing a bet in poker, and investing in the stock market. I pioneered an approach to studying the brain processes underlying strategic decisions which involves applying tasks developed by economists in the neuroscience laboratory. We both measure and alter brain activity while subjects compete in strategic games like 'rock-paper-scissors'. If activity within a brain region predicts upcoming choices (i.e., 'mind-reading'), this provides correlational evidence that it is involved in strategic decision-making. Furthermore, if upcoming choices can be altered through manipulation of activity within a brain region (i.e., 'mind-control'), this provides causal evidence that it is involved in strategic decision-making. Using these two techniques we are currently investigating which brain regions become activated to control strategic actions. Other experiments examine how multiple brain regions that are involved in choosing strategic actions become coordinated when multiple motor systems are involved (e.g., eye-hand coordination). Understanding the brain mechanisms involved in choosing strategic actions can help explain why people often appear to behave "irrationally" according to current economic models. Neuroeconomic models could, in turn, lead to more realistic policies for regulating such institutions as financial markets, insurance markets and lotteries to name but a few.

我的研究调查大脑如何做出决定。大多数关于这个问题的研究都考察了大脑在选择由感官线索引导的行动时所涉及的过程，例如在交通信号灯导航时。绿色意味着走。红色表示停止。然而，我们的许多日常决策并不那么简单，因为没有一个选项是唯一“正确”的。在竞争的情况下尤其如此，我们行为的结果不仅取决于我们自己的选择，还取决于对手的选择。常见的例子包括捉人游戏、曲棍球罚球、扑克投注以及股票市场投资。我开创了一种研究战略决策背后的大脑过程的方法，其中涉及应用经济学家在神经科学实验室开发的任务。当受试者参加“石头剪刀布”等战略游戏时，我们都会测量和改变大脑活动。如果大脑区域内的活动预测即将到来的选择（即“读心”），那么这就提供了相关证据表明它参与了战略决策。此外，如果可以通过操纵大脑区域内的活动（即“精神控制”）来改变即将到来的选择，那么这就提供了它参与战略决策的因果证据。我们目前正在利用这两种技术来研究哪些大脑区域被激活来控制战略行动。其他实验研究了当涉及多个运动系统（例如眼手协调）时，参与选择战略行动的多个大脑区域如何变得协调。了解选择战略行动所涉及的大脑机制有助于解释为什么根据当前的经济模型，人们常常表现出“非理性”行为。反过来，神经经济模型可以带来更现实的政策来监管金融市场、保险市场和彩票等机构。