The explore-exploit dilemma occurs anytime we must choose between exploring unknown options for information and exploiting known resources for reward. Previous work suggests that people use two different strategies to solve the explore-exploit dilemma: directed exploration, driven by information seeking, and random exploration, driven by decision noise. Here, we show that these two strategies rely on different neural systems. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to inhibit the right frontopolar cortex, we were able to selectively inhibit directed exploration while leaving random exploration intact. This suggests a causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration and that directed and random exploration rely on (at least partially) dissociable neural systems.

中文翻译：

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右额极皮层在定向但非随机探索中的因果作用

我们必须在探索未知信息选项和利用已知资源以获得奖励之间做出选择时，就会出现探索-利用困境。以前的工作表明，人们使用两种不同的策略来解决探索-利用困境：由信息搜索驱动的定向探索和由决策噪声驱动的随机探索。在这里，我们展示了这两种策略依赖于不同的神经系统。使用经颅磁刺激来抑制右额极皮层，我们能够选择性地抑制定向探索，同时保持随机探索完好无损。这表明右额极皮层在定向而非随机探索中具有因果作用，并且定向和随机探索依赖于（至少部分）可分离的神经系统。