Abstract

Adaptive performance in uncertain environments depends on the ability to continuously update internal beliefs about environmental states. Recent correlative evidence suggests that a frontoparietal network including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) supports belief updating under uncertainty, but whether the dlPFC serves a “causal” role in this process is currently not clear. To elucidate its contribution, we leveraged transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the right dlPFC, while 91 participants performed an incentivized belief-updating task. Participants also underwent a psychosocial stress or control manipulation to investigate the role of stress, which is known to modulate dlPFC functioning. We observed enhanced monetary value updating after anodal tDCS when it was normatively expected from a Bayesian perspective. A model-based analysis indicates that this effect was driven by belief updating. However, we also observed enhanced non-normative value updating, which might have been driven instead by expectancy violation. Enhanced normative and non-normative value updating reflected increased vs. decreased Bayesian rationality, respectively. Furthermore, cortisol increases were associated with enhanced positive, but not with negative, value updating. The present study thereby sheds light on the causal role of the right dlPFC in the remarkable human ability to navigate uncertain environments by continuously updating prior knowledge following new evidence.

中文翻译：

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背外侧前额叶皮层在不确定性下的信念更新中的因果作用。

摘要

在不确定环境中的适应性表现取决于不断更新关于环境状态的内部信念的能力。最近的相关证据表明，包括背外侧前额叶皮层 (dlPFC) 在内的额顶网络支持不确定性下的信念更新，但 dlPFC 在此过程中是否起到“因果”作用目前尚不清楚。为了阐明其贡献，我们在右侧 dlPFC 上利用经颅直流电刺激 (tDCS)，同时 91 名参与者执行了一项激励性的信念更新任务。参与者还经历了社会心理压力或控制操作，以研究压力的作用，众所周知，压力会调节 dlPFC 的功能。我们观察到阳极 tDCS 之后的货币价值更新增强，当它从贝叶斯的角度是规范预期的。基于模型的分析表明这种影响是由信念更新驱动的。然而，我们还观察到增强的非规范值更新，这可能是由预期违反驱动的。增强的规范和非规范值更新分别反映了贝叶斯理性的增加和减少。此外，皮质醇增加与增强的正值更新有关，但与负值更新无关。因此，本研究通过根据新证据不断更新先验知识，揭示了正确的 dlPFC 在人类驾驭不确定环境的卓越能力中的因果作用。增强的规范和非规范值更新分别反映了贝叶斯理性的增加和减少。此外，皮质醇增加与增强的正值更新有关，但与负值更新无关。因此，本研究通过根据新证据不断更新先验知识，揭示了正确的 dlPFC 在人类驾驭不确定环境的卓越能力中的因果作用。增强的规范和非规范值更新分别反映了贝叶斯理性的增加和减少。此外，皮质醇增加与增强的正值更新有关，但与负值更新无关。因此，本研究通过根据新证据不断更新先验知识，揭示了正确的 dlPFC 在人类驾驭不确定环境的卓越能力中的因果作用。