The Impact of the Posterior Parietal and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices on the Optimization of Long-Term versus Immediate Value

Abstract

fMRI research suggests that both the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) help individuals select better long-term monetary gains during intertemporal choice. Previous neuromodulation research has demonstrated that disruption of the DLPFC interferes with this ability. However, it is unclear whether the PPC performs a similarly important function during intertemporal choice, and whether the functions performed by either region impact choices involving losses. In the current study, we used low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine whether the PPC and DLPFC both normally facilitate selection of gains and losses with better long-term value than alternatives during intertemporal choice. We found that disruption of either region in the right hemisphere led to greater selection of both gains and losses that had better immediate, but worse long-term value than alternatives. This indicates that activity in both regions helps individuals optimize long-term value relative to immediate value in general, rather than being specific to choices involving gains. However, there were slightly different patterns of effects following disruption of the right PPC and right DLPFC, suggesting that each region may perform somewhat different functions that help optimize choice.

Neural mechanisms underlying the impact of daylong cognitive work on economic decisions

“…Our MFG cluster [Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) peak coordinates: −46, 22, 28] overlaps with the target (center: −36, 30, 27) of a previous study that applied TMS to the MFG and also observed an enhanced propensity to choose immediate rewards (6). However, we do not draw general conclusions about laterality, because there also was decreased activity in the right MFG in our experiment and because TMS to the right LPFC also biased choices toward immediate rewards in another study (7). Interestingly, only the MFG exhibited the expected pattern, i.e., activation in the conjunction between choice and difficulty and a decrease with session number specifically in the hard condition.…”

“…However, our null result might help sort out different hypotheses that were suggested regarding the role of the LPFC in intertemporal choice (3,(26)(27)(28). More specifically, the increase in choice impulsivity could arise from a failure to inhibit the selection of immediate rewards (6) or from a change in the relative valuation of choice options (7). At indifference points, the first hypothesis, that an increase in impulsivity arises from a failure to inhibit the selection of immediate rewards, implies that the LPFC should be more active when patient choices are made.…”

“…At the neural level, this capacity for self-control is associated with the recruitment of regions in the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) (3)(4)(5). Conversely, LPFC inhibition through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was shown to enhance the propensity to make impulsive choices, i.e., to favor immediate rewards (6,7). In the present study we address the question of whether alteration in LPFC activity could occur in situations encountered in everyday life and bias decisions toward impulsive behavior.…”

Nicotine deprivation, temporal discounting and choice consistency in heavy smokers

“…Immediate rewards might give rise to increased demands for prefrontal control (Essex et al, 2012;Figner et al, 2010). As cognitive control is attenuated under states of nicotine deprivation (Domier et al, 2007), trials with an immediate reference reward might be somewhat more affected by deprivation.…”

Aportes sobre el correlato neuroanatómico de la personalidad

“…También se ha implicado a esta corteza en la búsqueda de recompensas futuras 43 . Essex et al (2012) observa que los individuos en que se inactiva la corteza prefrontal dorsolateral medial, mediante estimulación magnética transcraneal (EMT), prefieren recompensas inmediatas, por tanto, esta región podría representar el valor de recompensas mediatas más beneficiosas 44 . De hecho, cuando existe conflicto entre recompensas futuras e inmediatas, la actividad de la LPFC se correlaciona negativamente con la activación de áreas subcorticales que responden a recompensas inmediatas 43 .…”