Our knowledge about neural mechanisms underlying decision making is largely based on experiments that involved few options. However, it is more common in daily life to choose between many options, in which processing choice information selectively is particularly important. The current study examined whether the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) are of particular importance to multiple-option decision making. Sixty-eight participants received anodal high definition-transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to focally enhance dlPFC or PPC in a double-blind sham-controlled design. Participants then performed a multiple-option decision making task. We found longer fixations on poorer options were related to less optimal decisions. Interestingly, this negative impact was attenuated after applying anodal HD-tDCS over dlPFC, especially in choices with many options. This suggests that dlPFC has a causal role in filtering choice-irrelevant information. In contrast, these effects were absent after participants received anodal HD-tDCS over PPC. Instead, the choices made by these participants were more biased towards the best options presented on the side contralateral to the stimulation. This suggests PPC has a causal role in value-based spatial selection. To conclude, the dlPFC has a role in filtering undesirable options, whereas the PPC emphasizes the desirable contralateral options.

中文翻译：

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背外侧前额叶皮层和后顶叶皮层在多选项决策中的不同因果影响

我们对决策背后的神经机制的了解主要基于涉及很少选择的实验。然而，在日常生活中更常见的是在众多选项之间进行选择，其中选择性地处理选择信息尤为重要。目前的研究检查了背外侧前额叶皮层 (dlPFC) 和后顶叶皮层 (PPC) 是否对多选项决策特别重要。68 名参与者接受了阳极高清经颅直流电刺激 (HD-tDCS)，以在双盲假控制设计中局部增强 dlPFC 或 PPC。参与者然后执行多项选择决策任务。我们发现，对较差选项的长期关注与不太理想的决策有关。有趣的是，在 dlPFC 上应用阳极 HD-tDCS 后，这种负面影响得到了减弱，特别是在具有许多选项的选择中。这表明 dlPFC 在过滤与选择无关的信息中具有因果作用。相反，在参与者通过 PPC 接受阳极 HD-tDCS 后，这些影响就消失了。相反，这些参与者做出的选择更偏向于刺激对侧的最佳选择。这表明 PPC 在基于价值的空间选择中具有因果作用。总而言之，dlPFC 在过滤不良选项方面发挥作用，而 PPC 则强调可取的对侧选项。在参与者通过 PPC 接受阳极 HD-tDCS 后，这些影响就消失了。相反，这些参与者做出的选择更偏向于刺激对侧的最佳选择。这表明 PPC 在基于价值的空间选择中具有因果作用。总而言之，dlPFC 在过滤不良选项方面发挥作用，而 PPC 则强调可取的对侧选项。在参与者通过 PPC 接受阳极 HD-tDCS 后，这些影响就消失了。相反，这些参与者做出的选择更偏向于刺激对侧的最佳选择。这表明 PPC 在基于价值的空间选择中具有因果作用。总而言之，dlPFC 在过滤不良选项方面发挥作用，而 PPC 则强调可取的对侧选项。