Dataset from: Lapses in perceptual decisions reflect exploration.

Perceptual decision-makers often display a constant rate of errors independent of evidence strength. These “lapses” are treated as a nuisance arising from noise tangential to the decision, e.g. inattention or motor errors. Here, we use a multisensory decision task in rats to demonstrate that these explanations cannot account for lapses’ stimulus dependence. We propose a novel explanation: lapses reflect a strategic trade-off between exploiting known rewarding actions and exploring uncertain ones. We tested the model’s predictions by selectively manipulating one action’s reward magnitude or probability. As uniquely predicted by this model, changes were restricted to lapses associated with that action. Finally, we show that lapses are a powerful tool for assigning decision-related computations to neural structures based on disruption experiments (here, posterior striatum and secondary motor cortex). These results suggest that lapses reflect an integral component of decision-making and are informative about action values in normal and disrupted brain states

Decision Activity in Parietal Cortex - Leader or Follower?

Katz and colleagues demonstrate that inactivating the primate lateral intraparietal area (LIP) spares visual motion decisions, even though these same decisions strongly modulate LIP neurons. This work is the latest addition to an intense effort spanning sensory modalities, animals, and techniques to understand which structures comprise the circuits responsible for interpreting sensory signals to make decisions

The Churchland birthday data cake

My lab is the best!! They got me this incredible science cake highlighting our latest observations. However, I fear it makes us vulnerable to being scooped! If you want to refer to the figures, may I request that you cite the cake? #labmeeting #birthdaycake Cake by Barbara Cascon