Neural Coding of Tactile Decisions in the Human Prefrontal Cortex

摘要: The neural processes underlying tactile decisions in the human brain remain elusive. We addressed this question a functional magnetic resonance imaging study using somatosensory discrimination task, requiring participants to compare frequency of two successive stimuli. Tactile stimuli per se engaged somatosensory, parietal, and frontal cortical regions. Using statistical model that accounted for relative difference frequencies (i.e., Weber fraction) accuracy correct or incorrect), we show trial-by-trial is represented linearly by activity changes left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral insular cortices. However, circumscribed region within DLPFC showed different response pattern expressed as were monotonically related stimulation only but not incorrect trials. Our findings suggest encodes stimulus representations underlie veridical humans.