Statistical analysis of neural correlates in decision-making

Abstract

We investigated the neuronal processes which occur during a decision- making task based on a perceptual classi cation judgment. For this purpose we have analysed three di erent experimental paradigms (somatosensory, visual, and auditory) in two di erent species (monkey and rat), with the common goal of shedding light into the information carried by neurons. In particular, we focused on how the information content is preserved in the underlying neuronal activity over time. Furthermore we considered how the decision, the stimuli, and the con dence are encoded in memory and, when the experimental paradigm allowed it, how the attention modulates these features. Finally, we went one step further, and we investigated the interactions between brain areas that arise during the process of decision- making.

Durant aquesta tesi hem investigat els processos neuronals que es pro- dueixen durant tasques de presa de decisions, tasques basades en un ju- dici l ogic de classi caci o perceptual. Per a aquest prop osit hem analitzat tres paradigmes experimentals diferents (somatosensorial, visual i auditiu) en dues espcies diferents (micos i rates), amb l'objectiu d'il.lustrar com les neurones codi quen informaci on referents a les t asques. En particular, ens hem centrat en com certes informacions estan cod- i cades en l'activitat neuronal al llarg del temps. Concretament, com la informaci o sobre: la decisi o comportamental, els factors externs, i la con- ana en la resposta, b e codi cada en la mem oria. A m es a m es, quan el paradigma experimental ens ho va permetre, com l'atenci o modula aquests aspectes. Finalment, hem anat un pas m es enll a, i hem analitzat la comu- nicaci o entre les diferents arees corticals, mentre els subjectes resolien una tasca de presa de decisions.