Human perceptual and metacognitive decision-making rely on distinct brain networks

PLoS Biol. 2022 Aug 9;20(8):e3001750. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001750. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Perceptual decisions depend on the ability to exploit available sensory information in order to select the most adaptive option from a set of alternatives. Such decisions depend on the perceptual sensitivity of the organism, which is generally accompanied by a corresponding level of certainty about the choice made. Here, by use of corticocortical paired associative transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol (ccPAS) aimed at inducing plastic changes, we shaped perceptual sensitivity and metacognitive ability in a motion discrimination task depending on the targeted network, demonstrating their functional dissociation. Neurostimulation aimed at boosting V5/MT+-to-V1/V2 back-projections enhanced motion sensitivity without impacting metacognition, whereas boosting IPS/LIP-to-V1/V2 back-projections increased metacognitive efficiency without impacting motion sensitivity. This double-dissociation provides causal evidence of distinct networks for perceptual sensitivity and metacognitive ability in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain
  • Decision Making / physiology
  • Humans
  • Metacognition*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from BIAL Foundation awarded to V.R. (204/18) and from Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna (339bis/2017) and Ministero Istruzione Università e Ricerca (2017N7WCLP) awarded to A.A. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.