Sex-based modulation of cognitive processes could set the stage for individual differences in vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders. While value-based decision making processes in particular have been proposed to be influenced by sex differences, the overall correct performance in decision making tasks often show variable or minimal differences across sexes. Computational tools allow us to uncover latent variables that define different decision making approaches, even in animals with similar correct performance. Here, we quantify sex differences in mice in the latent variables underlying behavior in a classic value-based decision making task: a restless 2-armed bandit. While male and female mice had similar accuracy, they achieved this performance via different patterns of exploration. Male mice tended to make more exploratory choices overall, largely because they appeared to get 'stuck' in exploration once they had started. Female mice tended to explore less, but learned more quickly during exploration. Together, these results suggest that sex exerts stronger influences on decision making during periods of learning and exploration than during stable choices. Exploration during decision making is altered in people diagnosed addictions, depression, and neurodevelopmental disabilities, pinpointing the neural mechanisms of exploration as a highly translational avenue for conferring sex-modulated vulnerability to neuropsychiatric diagnoses.

中文翻译：

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探索中学习中的性别差异

基于性别的认知过程调节可以为神经精神疾病的脆弱性中的个体差异奠定基础。虽然特别提出了基于价值的决策过程会受到性别差异的影响，但决策任务中总体正确的表现通常会显示出性别差异或最小差异。计算工具使我们能够发现潜在变量，这些变量定义了不同的决策方法，即使在具有相似正确性能的动物中也是如此。在这里，我们在潜在的变量中对小鼠中的性别差异进行了量化，该变量是基于经典的基于价值的决策任务中的行为：躁动的两臂匪徒。尽管雄性和雌性小鼠具有相似的准确度，但它们通过不同的探索方式实现了这一性能。雄性小鼠总体上倾向于做出更多的探索性选择，主要是因为它们一旦开始就似乎被“卡住”了。雌性小鼠的探索倾向较少，但在探索过程中学习更快。总之，这些结果表明，与稳定的选择相比，性在学习和探索期间对决策的影响更大。在被诊断为成瘾，抑郁和神经发育障碍的人们中，决策过程中的探索发生了变化，从而将探索的神经机制精确定位为高度平移的途径，为神经精神病诊断赋予了性别调节的脆弱性。这些结果表明，与稳定的选择相比，性在学习和探索期间对决策的影响更大。在被诊断为成瘾，抑郁和神经发育障碍的人们中，决策过程中的探索发生了变化，从而将探索的神经机制精确定位为高度平移的途径，为神经精神病诊断赋予了性别调节的脆弱性。这些结果表明，与稳定的选择相比，性在学习和探索期间对决策的影响更大。在被诊断为成瘾，抑郁和神经发育障碍的人们中，决策过程中的探索发生了变化，从而将探索的神经机制精确定位为高度平移的途径，为神经精神病诊断赋予了性别调节的脆弱性。