An Algorithmic Model of Decision Making in the Human Brain

Abstract

Introduction:One of the interesting topics in neuroscience is problem solving and decisionmaking. In this area, everything gets more complicated when events occur sequentially. One of the practical methods for handling the complexity of brain function is to create an empirical model. Model Predictive Control (MPC) is known as a powerful mathematical-based tool often used in industrial environments. We proposed an MPC and its algorithm as a part of the functionalities of the brain to improve the performance of the decision-making process. Methods:We used a hybrid methodology whereby combining a powerful nonlinear control system tools and a modular fashion approach in computer science. Our hybrid approach employed the MPC and the Object-Oriented Modeling (OOM) respectively. Therefore, we could model the interaction between most important regions within the brain to simulate the decision-making process. Results:The employed methodology provided the capability to design an algorithm based on the cognitive functionalities of the PFC and Hippocampus. The developed algorithm applied for modulation of neural circuits between cortex and sub-cortex during a decision making process. Conclusion:It is well known that the decision-making process results from communication between the prefrontal cortex (working memory) and hippocampus (long-term memory). However, there are other regions of the brain that play essential roles in making decisions, but their exact mechanisms of action still are unknown. In this study, we modeled those mechanisms with MPC. We showed that MPC controls the stream of data between prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in a closed-loop system to correct actions.

GABAA Receptor Subunit Transcriptional Regulation, Expression Organization, and Mediated Calmodulin Signaling in Prefrontal Cortex of Rats Showing Testosterone-Mediated Impulsive Behavior

“…These studies were performed under the supraphysiological influence of testosterone in PFC in testosterone-induced impulsivity rat model. The PFC was chosen because of its well-studied role in motor control ( Robbins and Dalley, 2017 ; Sholler et al, 2020 ) decision making ( Hiser and Koenigs, 2018 ; Saberi Moghadam et al, 2019 ), and emotional processing and regulation ( Dixon et al, 2017 ). Our previous study also indicated that PFC plays a significant role in testosterone-mediated impulsivity ( Agrawal et al, 2019 ).…”

Quantum physics: A better model to understand consciousness-related brain functions

“…The mutual communication between the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus creates a closed circuit to produce a decision. [9] Besides the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, other parts of the brain also affect the decisionmaking process, and we have yet to know their mechanism. With quantum physics, we might better understand the cooperation among different components in the brain by applying a quantum model to the complicated and somewhat unpredictable patterns of neural signals.…”

Neuroeconomics of decision-making during COVID-19 pandemic

“…Neuroeconomics being a multi-disciplinary field is considerably associated with different fields of neuroscience, ranging from neuropsychology, computational and theoretical neuroscience, to cognitive and behavioral neuroscience [ 1 ]. Cognitive and behavioral neuroscience involves the neural mechanisms of mental and behavioral activities, or, more generally, the relationships among the brain, the mind, and action [ 6 , 7 , 23 ].…”

“…The process of decision-making is dependent on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and is done in four steps; firstly, sensory inputs produce an initial stimulus, which excites a set of hippocampal neurons, secondly, another set of secondary stimuli arrives within the hippocampus where the stimulus neuron response is then produced as initial information. Thirdly, this initial information is delivered to the prefrontal cortex, which then determines the additional information needed and retrieves it from the hippocampus [ 23 ]; X.-J. [ 7 ]; lastly, the prefrontal cortex reaches a proposed controlling process.…”