The neurocognitive features of intentional decision-making in humans

This thesis investigated several aspects of intentional decision-making in humans. First, a meta-analysis revised that, comparing with exogenous, instructed behaviour, endogenous choices generated from intentional decisions increase the activation of a network consisting of the medial prefrontal cortex (pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and caudal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)), the lateral frontoparietal cortices (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and inferior parietal lobe (IPL)) and the anterior insula cortex (aINS). According to the nature of the options in intentional decision-making, the intentions were categorized into four types: reactional intention (RI), perceptual intention (PI), inhibitory intention (II) and cognitive intention (CI). Second, a free-choice experiment on various cognitive tasks was proposed and conducted online to explore the cognitive intentions of heterogeneous cognitive processes. Participants showed consistent repetition bias and a preference for the perceived easier tasks. Notably, this perceived difference was not necessarily related to the actual task performance. Third, the MEG signatures of cognitive intentions and their subsequent stimulus processing were investigated through multivariate pattern analyses. Source-localized data showed the activities in the brain areas related to task rules, such as the middle cingulate cortex and the middle frontal area, were sensitive to both task types and transition types in cognitive intentions. Finally, to understand the cognitive intentions in a more naturalistic environment, an adapted version of the Pac-Man game was employed to investigate dynamic strategic decision-making. The behavioural modelling results together with the eye tracking and fMRI results presented the feasibility and a promising future of using video games as a continuous paradigm in intentional decision-making studies. To sum up, the abovementioned findings contribute to intentional decision-making with meta-analytic reviews, innovative experimental paradigms and multi-model neurocognitive evidence