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Neural systems responding to degrees of uncertainty in human decision-making
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Neural systems responding to degrees of uncertainty in human decision-making

Ming Hsu, Meghana Bhatt, Ralph Adolphs, Daniel Tranel and Colin F Camerer
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.310(5754), pp.1680-1683
12/09/2005
DOI: 10.1126/science.1115327
PMID: 16339445

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Abstract

Much is known about how people make decisions under varying levels of probability (risk). Less is known about the neural basis of decision-making when probabilities are uncertain because of missing information (ambiguity). In decision theory, ambiguity about probabilities should not affect choices. Using functional brain imaging, we show that the level of ambiguity in choices correlates positively with activation in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex, and negatively with a striatal system. Moreover, striatal activity correlates positively with expected reward. Neurological subjects with orbitofrontal lesions were insensitive to the level of ambiguity and risk in behavioral choices. These data suggest a general neural circuit responding to degrees of uncertainty, contrary to decision theory.
Decision Making Mental Processes Confidence Intervals Uncertainty Humans Decision Theory Probability Male Risk Brain - physiology Brain Diseases - physiopathology Frontal Lobe - physiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging Likelihood Functions Brain Mapping Corpus Striatum - physiology Adult Female Games, Experimental Reward Amygdala - physiology Brain Diseases - psychology

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