Neuronal Activity in the Human Subthalamic Nucleus Encodes Decision Conflict During Action Selection

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2012 Mar 8

PMID 22396419

Citations 62

Authors

Kareem A Zaghloul

Christoph T Weidemann

Bradley C Lega

Jurg L Jaggi

Gordon H Baltuch

Michael J Kahana

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The subthalamic nucleus (STN), which receives excitatory inputs from the cortex and has direct connections with the inhibitory pathways of the basal ganglia, is well positioned to efficiently mediate action selection. Here, we use microelectrode recordings captured during deep brain stimulation surgery as participants engage in a decision task to examine the role of the human STN in action selection. We demonstrate that spiking activity in the STN increases when participants engage in a decision and that the level of spiking activity increases with the degree of decision conflict. These data implicate the STN as an important mediator of action selection during decision processes.

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