Simple decisions form the basis of most psychological processes and behavior, from perception (“was that a ball or a strike?”), memory (“is the count level or full?”), to action (“should I swing high or low?”). Neuroscientific studies have made progress in identifying the neural systems associated with such processes. However, less is known about precisely how they operate and how they are monitored and modified in order to achieve the goals of behavior. This Center represents a collaboration among cognitive psychologists, neuroscientists, mathematicians and physicists to study these questions. Center investigators use convergent approaches to study neural processes related to behavior in simple decision tasks. A defining characteristic of the Center, is a shared theoretical framework of the Drift Diffusion Model (DDM), a simple, but powerful account of the dynamics of behavior (e.g., reaction time distributions and accuracy) and underlying neural activity in simple decision tasks. The goal of the Center is to develop and test this theoretical framework, and its application to specific neural systems, focusing on four primary Center hypotheses:

  1. Decision processes implemented in task-specific brain networks can be formally described by the DDM
  2. Control of these processes involves neural structures (including oribitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortex) responsible for monitoring the costs and benefits associated with performance.
  3. Structures (including prefrontal cortex) responsible for making trial-to-trial adjustments in decision parameters to optimize performance within a given task.
  4. Balance this against the value of pursuing other tasks (locus coeruleus).

The Center is organized into 6 projects and 3 cores (Administrative, Neuroimaging and Computational Cores) that use behavioral testing and neuroimaging in human adults (Projects 1-4), children (Project 4) and non-human primates (Projects 2), scalp and intracranial electrical recordings in humans (Projects 1 and 3) and direct neuronal recordings in non-human primates (Project 5). Project 6 uses computational modeling and dynamical systems techniques to analyze neural network models of the tasks employed across all Projects. The Center will foster training of researchers at all levels, from undergraduates to participating junior faculty.