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Cortical representations of confidence in a visual perceptual decision

Author

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  • Leopold Zizlsperger

    (RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30
    Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Research Centre Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse)

  • Thomas Sauvigny

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52)

  • Barbara Händel

    (Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Deutschordenstrasse 46)

  • Thomas Haarmeier

    (RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30
    Cognitive Neurology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 27)

Abstract

To date the exact neuronal implementation of decision confidence has been subject to little research. Here we explore electroencephalographic correlates of human choice certainty in a visual motion discrimination task for either spatial attention or motor effector cue instructions. We demonstrate electrophysiological correlates of choice certainty that evolve as early as 300 ms after stimulus onset and resemble the primary visual motion representations in early visual cortex. These correlates do not emerge unless or until the subject unambiguously knows which of the competing visual stimuli is actually relevant to behaviour. They extend beyond stimulus presentation up to the motor response but are independent of the motor effector. Our findings suggest that perceptual confidence evolves in parallel with representations of stimulus properties and is dedicated to one specific aspect of the visual world. Its electroencephalographic correlates can be disentangled from representations of sensory evidence, objective discrimination performance and overt motor behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Leopold Zizlsperger & Thomas Sauvigny & Barbara Händel & Thomas Haarmeier, 2014. "Cortical representations of confidence in a visual perceptual decision," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4940
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4940
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