Intrinsic neural dynamics and information processing in decision-making circuits

Decision neuroscience is a rapidly advancing field aimed at understanding how neural circuits give rise to behavioral choices. Recent research highlights that the intrinsic dynamics of neurons and the connectivity within neural circuits critically shape information processing during decision-making. However, vital questions remain about how spontaneous activity patterns and network fluctuations influence the reliability, adaptability, and efficiency of cognitive operations leading up to a choice. In particular, we still lack a clear understanding of the neural dynamics that govern the transition from an evidence accumulation state to the commitment to a specific choice, a key step in the decision process.Although large-scale recordings and computational models have begun to elucidate the complexity of these dynamics, a comprehensive synthesis of findings and theories is still lacking. Ongoing debates concern the causal relationship between internally generated activity and externally driven signals, and whether intrinsic dynamics facilitate or hinder information integration. Major studies have demonstrated that these spontaneous dynamics can impact perception, learning, and behavioral variability, but the mechanistic foundations remain incompletely understood. Importantly, a deeper understanding of the neural dynamics underlying decision-making and other cognitive functions may also open new avenues for the treatment of cognitive deficits through neuromodulation and other targeted interventions.This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of how intrinsic neural dynamics contribute to information processing in decision-making circuits. We seek to clarify the roles these dynamics play in generating, modulating, or constraining decision-related computations, posing questions such as: How do ongoing network activities predispose choices or bias neural coding? How do neural circuits transition from evidence accumulation to commitment to a choice? Can intrinsic fluctuations be harnessed for more adaptive or flexible decisions? What mechanistic insights can be gained from comparative, computational, or experimental studies across species and brain regions?By synthesizing new evidence and theoretical perspectives, this Research Topic intends to bridge gaps between cellular-level dynamics, network properties, and their behavioral manifestations, while also highlighting potential translational implications for neuromodulation-based approaches to cognitive disorders.To gather further insights at the intersection of neural dynamics and information processing in decision-making, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Mechanisms underlying spontaneous neural activity in decision circuits • The interplay between intrinsic and stimulus-driven dynamics during choices • Neural dynamics governing the transition from evidence accumulation to commitment • Computational models linking neural dynamics and decision performance • Influence of network fluctuations on coding fidelity and behavioral variability • Comparative studies of decision-making across species or brain regions • Techniques for perturbing or monitoring intrinsic activity in vivo • Theoretical frameworks unifying evidence on intrinsic dynamics and decision-making • Neuromodulation and other approaches targeting neural dynamics to improve cognitive function Topic editors: Jochen Ditterich Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80294/intrinsic-neural-dynamics-and-information-processing-in-decision-making-circuits