Abstract
Decisions are faster and less accurate when conditions favor speed, and are slower and more accurate when they favor accuracy. This speed-accuracy trade-off (SAT) can be explained by the principles of bounded integration, where noisy evidence is integrated until it reaches a bound. Higher bounds reduce the impact of noise by increasing integration times, supporting higher accuracy (vice versa for speed). These computations are hypothesized to be implemented by feedback inhibition between neural populations selective for the decision alternatives, each of which corresponds to an attractor in the space of network states. Since decision-correlated neural activity typically reaches a fixed rate at the time of commitment to a choice, it has been hypothesized that the neural implementation of the bound is fixed, and that the SAT is supported by a common input to the populations integrating evidence. According to this hypothesis, a stronger common input reduces the difference between a baseline firing rate and a threshold rate for enacting a choice. In simulations of a two-choice decision task, we use a reduced version of a biophysically-based network model (Wong and Wang, ) to show that a common input can control the SAT, but that changes to the threshold-baseline difference are epiphenomenal. Rather, the SAT is controlled by changes to network dynamics. A stronger common input decreases the model's effective time constant of integration and changes the shape of the attractor landscape, so the initial state is in a more error-prone position. Thus, a stronger common input reduces decision time and lowers accuracy. The change in dynamics also renders firing rates higher under speed conditions at the time that an ideal observer can make a decision from network activity. The difference between this rate and the baseline rate is actually greater under speed conditions than accuracy conditions, suggesting that the bound is not implemented by firing rates per se.
1. Introduction
In decision making experiments, subjects make faster, less accurate decisions when conditions favor speed, and make slower, more accurate decisions when conditions favor accuracy (e.g., Bogacz et al., ; Heitz and Schall, ). These data describe the speed-accuracy trade-off (SAT) and can be explained by the principles of bounded integration. According to these principles, noisy evidence for the alternatives of a decision is integrated until the running total for one of the alternatives reaches a criterion level. The running total is referred to as a decision variable and the criterion is referred to as the bound. A higher bound allows evidence to be integrated for longer, increasing the percentage of correct decisions. A lower bound has the opposite effect. These abstract models have been invaluable in characterizing the computations underlying decisions and the SAT (see Smith and Ratcliff, ; Ratcliff and McKoon, ; Bogacz et al., ).
The computations characterized by bounded integration models are hypothesized to be implemented by competitive interactions between neural populations selective for the alternatives of a decision (Usher and McClelland, ; Wang, ; Machens et al., ; Bogacz et al., ; Wong and Wang, ; Standage et al., ; You and Wang, ). According to this widely held hypothesis, temporal integration and competitive interactions are supported by recurrent excitation and feedback inhibition respectively, where each population implements a decision variable and a choice is made when the aggregate firing rate of one of the populations reaches a threshold. This hypothesis is supported by electrophysiological recordings from several cortical areas in non-human primates performing decision tasks, where the spike rates of neurons responsive to the chosen alternative (target-in neurons) increase over several hundreds of milliseconds prior to the animal's choice, and the spike rates of neurons unresponsive to the chosen alternative (target-out neurons) are much lower (e.g., Roitman and Shadlen, ; Thomas and Pare, ; Bollimunta and Ditterich, ; Ding and Gold, ).
Under several task paradigms, target-in activity of putative integrator neurons has been shown to reach an approximately fixed rate at the time of commitment to a choice (the choice threshold), regardless of the speed or accuracy of decisions (Hanes and Schall, ; Shadlen and Newsome, ; Roitman and Shadlen, ; Churchland et al., ; Purcell et al., ; Ding and Gold, ). These data have been interpreted as indicating that the neural implementation of the bound is fixed across conditions emphasizing speed over accuracy or vice versa (see Bogacz et al., ). Under the assumption of linear integration, adjusting the starting point of a decision variable is equivalent to adjusting the bound, so it has been hypothesized that subjects trade speed and accuracy by adjusting the “baseline” rate of integrator populations, i.e., the activity on which a decision variable builds (see Bogacz et al., ). According to this hypothesis, the SAT is controlled by a cognitive signal projecting uniformly to all integrator populations, where a stronger (weaker) signal favors speed (accuracy) by decreasing (increasing) the difference between the choice threshold and baseline activity (the threshold-baseline difference). We refer to this possibility as the threshold-baseline hypothesis (a.k.a. the changing-baseline hypothesis, Bogacz et al., ). Several recent neuroimaging (Forstmann et al., ; Ivanoff et al., ; van Veen et al., ; Wenzlaff et al., ) and electrophysiological (Heitz and Schall, ; Hanks et al., ) studies have provided evidence for such a signal, reporting higher baseline (pre-stimulus) activity in decision-correlated cortical areas under speed conditions than accuracy and/or neutral conditions.
Here, we present an alternative hypothesis that does not assume linear integration. As above, we assume that a cognitive signal controls the SAT by projecting uniformly to integrator populations, but the underlying mechanism is grounded in the framework of attractor dynamics (e.g., Machens et al., ; Bogacz et al., ; Wong and Wang, ; Standage et al., ; You and Wang, ; see Wang, , for review). According to this framework, integration times are determined by the non-linear dynamics of decision circuitry, where stronger and weaker dynamics furnish shorter and longer integration times respectively (Wong and Wang, ; Standage et al., ). The SAT can therefore be accomplished by any mechanism that modulates the strength of dynamics within and between neural populations selective for the decision alternatives (see Standage et al., ). Spatially non-selective excitation provides just such a mechanism (Salinas and Abbott, ), where a stronger (weaker) signal corresponds to speed (accuracy) conditions (Furman and Wang, ; Roxin and Ledberg, ). Of course, this input also entails higher (lower) baseline activity under speed (accuracy) conditions. In attractor network models, higher (lower) baseline activity will indeed decrease (increase) the threshold-baseline difference, but this decrease (increase) is epiphenomenal. The SAT is supported by the resulting changes to network dynamics.
Below, we use a neurally-derived model (Wong and Wang, ) to demonstrate that adjusting the strength of spatially non-selective excitation can control the SAT (Furman and Wang, ; Roxin and Ledberg, ). We demonstrate that this signal raises (lowers) the baseline activity of integrator populations, consistent with higher (lower) baseline activity under speed (accuracy, neutral) conditions in SAT experiments (Forstmann et al., ; Ivanoff et al., ; van Veen et al., ; Wenzlaff et al., ; Heitz and Schall, ; Hanks et al., ). We use a fixed choice threshold in the model, so the spatially non-selective signal decreases (increases) the threshold-baseline difference under speed (accuracy) conditions, relative to a neutral condition. We demonstrate that the threshold-baseline difference cannot account for the SAT in the model, since raising (lowering) the threshold to compensate for the higher (lower) baseline activity under the speed (accuracy) condition does not “untrade” speed and accuracy, i.e., reinstating the threshold-baseline difference of the neutral condition does not recover the neutral behavior of the model. Using dynamic systems analysis, we show that a higher (lower) baseline decreases (increases) the effective time constant of integration of the network under speed (accuracy) conditions, accounting for the SAT in a manner consistent with a flexible bound, while also changing the shape of the decision space so as to further decrease (increase) accuracy. Finally, we show that decision-selective firing rates in the model are actually higher (lower) under speed (accuracy) conditions at the time at which an ideal observer can discriminate between the rates of the integrator populations; as is the difference between these rates and the baseline rate (the discrimination-baseline difference). Thus, the discrimination-baseline difference increases under speed conditions and decreases under accuracy conditions, opposite to the principles of the threshold-baseline hypothesis. Our analysis explains these observations.
Our simulations show that under the framework of attractor dynamics, there is no discrepancy between a flexible bound and a fixed choice threshold. The bound—or the difference between the bound and the starting point of a decision variable—is a computational device for controlling the duration of evidence accumulation in abstract models. It can be implemented by the effective time constant of integration of decision circuitry, with corresponding changes to the decision space. This space and its time evolution are emergent properties of network dynamics and are qualitatively different than the synaptic current required to elicit choice behavior.
2. A common input to integrators controls the SAT in an attractor model, but not by the threshold-baseline difference
In their seminal study, Wong and Wang () used analytic methods to reduce a biophysically-based cortical network model (Wang, ) to a 2-variable system, tractable for analysis (depicted in Figure 1A). They showed that each of the populations selective for the decision alternatives corresponds to a stable state in the space of possible states of network activity, i.e., each population corresponds to an attractor (Figures 1B,C). The attractors are separated by an unstable “saddle” steady state with two manifolds: a stable manifold that draws the network toward the saddle point, and an unstable manifold that repels it toward one of the stable attractors (Figure 1C). They further calculated the time constants of these two manifolds, showing that the dynamics in the vicinity of the saddle support integration times much longer than the time constants of decay of contributing biophysical processes, such as those of neurons and synapses.
Figure 1
We used Wong and Wang's (
Unsurprisingly, the spatially non-selective current I0 produced higher and lower pre-stimulus (baseline) firing rates under speed and accuracy conditions respectively, compared to the neutral condition. Baseline rates can be seen to the left of the vertical line in Figure 2A for an example coherence value (c = 4%, see Figure caption). The resulting SAT can be seen in Figures 2B,C, where the psychometric curve is shifted to the right and left under speed and accuracy conditions respectively; and for correct and error trials, mean decisions times are shorter and longer respectively. Thus, Figure 2 shows that by raising and lowering baseline activity, uniform input to both integrator populations controls the SAT. At first glance, these results appear to support the threshold-baseline hypothesis.
Figure 2

Trading speed and accuracy as a function spatially non-selective input I0. Simulated neural activity (A) and resulting psychometric (B) and chronometric (C) curves for neutral (I0 = 321pA, medium gray), speed (I0 = 325pA, black) and accuracy (I0 = 316pA, light gray) conditions. (A) Trial-averaged firing rates for coherence c = 4%. For each condition, the upper and lower curves show the mean rate over all correct trials for the target and distractor populations respectively. The vertical line at 0ms indicates the time of simulated motion onset. To the left of this line, pre-stimulus/baseline firing rates are higher (lower) under speed (accuracy) conditions compared to the neutral condition. Thus, the threshold-baseline difference is smaller (larger) under speed (accuracy) conditions. The solid horizontal line shows the “default” choice threshold θ = 15Hz used by Wong and Wang (
However, the threshold-baseline hypothesis dictates that the speed and accuracy of decisions are determined by the threshold-baseline difference. According to this hypothesis, a fixed threshold-baseline difference will produce uniform decision making performance, regardless of the rate of baseline activity. The threshold-baseline hypothesis therefore requires that any changes to the speed or accuracy of decisions resulting from a change in baseline activity (with a fixed threshold) can be “reversed” by an equal change to the threshold. We therefore increased the threshold under the speed condition by the difference between baseline activity under speed and neutral conditions (Δns, the mean difference over the last 1000 ms of the pre-stimulus interval), and we decreased the threshold under the accuracy condition by the difference between baseline activity under neutral and accuracy conditions (Δna). These adjustments to the threshold did not recover the psychometric and chronometric curves produced under the neutral condition, i.e., the black and light gray curves in Figures 2B,C do not overlay the medium gray curves. Denoting the threshold used by Wong and Wang (
Figure 3

(A) The value of simulated motion coherence at which accuracy equals 75% for a range of choice thresholds under speed (black), neutral (medium gray) and accuracy (light gray) conditions (see dashed lines in Figure 2B). Dotted curves show results for simulations in which the threshold was raised (speed condition) and lowered (accuracy condition) by Δns and Δna respectively (see text). Solid curves show results for the corresponding unadjusted threshold. Adjusting the choice threshold makes little difference to accuracy, i.e., the solid and dotted curves are similar for speed and accuracy conditions, and do not overlay the neutral curve. (B,C) Mean decision times over all trials for coherence c = 1% (B) and c = 32% (C). Conventions are the same as in (A). Adjusting the threshold by Δns and Δna makes little difference to decision times, regardless of the threshold chosen. The solid vertical line in each panel indicates the threshold used by Wong and Wang (
3. The SAT is controlled by network dynamics
Returning to Figure 2A, the mean firing rates following motion onset (to the right of the vertical line) point to the mechanism by which the spatially non-selective input I0 controls the SAT in the model. The rate of increase of target activity is higher and lower under speed and accuracy conditions respectively, relative to the neutral condition. The different rates of increase reflect the dynamics furnished by the different values of I0 under speed, accuracy and neutral conditions. As shown by Wong and Wang (
Figure 4

(A) The time constant of the unstable manifold of the saddle point (see Figure 1) for speed (black), neutral (medium gray) and accuracy (light gray) conditions, as a function of coherence. The time constant determines the time over which the system is repelled from the saddle toward an attractor corresponding to the target or the distractor (Figure 1C; T and D in B–D). (B–D) Stable (solid) and unstable (dashed) manifolds of the saddle for the accuracy (B, I0 = 316pA), neutral (C, I0 = 321pA) and speed (D, I0 = 325pA) conditions for coherence c = 4%. At low rates below the saddle, the stable manifold is pushed closer to the midline with increasing I0, while rates at the saddle increase. Solid circles show the initial state of the network. Insets show close-ups of the stable manifold and the midline at frequencies ≤5 Hz.
Increasing I0 not only re-positions the stable manifold, but also re-positions the saddle point, so that both populations fire at higher rates (Figures 4B–D). This change in position of the saddle dictates that firing rates will be higher when the network begins its descent into an attractor basin under speed conditions. In other words, firing rates will be higher when decision-selective rates separate from those of the competing population. To confirm this effect, we used signal detection theory to determine when an ideal observer can discriminate target activity from distractor activity in the model under speed, accuracy and neutral conditions (Supplementary Material Section 3). Signal detection theory is commonly used to estimate the time of target selection from neural data (Thompson et al.,
Figure 5

The mean firing rate of the target population at the time at which an ideal observer can discriminate target activity from distractor activity, calculated across all positive coherence values. The rate is higher (lower) under speed (accuracy) conditions.
Next, we subtracted the baseline rate under speed, accuracy and neutral conditions from the corresponding rate at discrimination time (the discrimination-baseline difference). The discrimination-baseline difference was larger under speed conditions and smaller under accuracy conditions. Because decisions are over when the firing rates separate, the rate at this time approximates a “decision threshold,” as opposed to the choice threshold (see the Discussion). To summarize: the difference between this decision threshold and baseline activity is larger under speed conditions and smaller under accuracy conditions in the model. Thus, stronger (weaker) non-selective input under speed (accuracy) conditions modulates decision-selective firing rates in a manner opposite to the principles of the threshold-baseline hypothesis. We confirmed these findings with an alternative method, in which decision times (and correctness) were determined by the last intersection of target and distractor activity on each trial, i.e., decisions were made when target and distractor activity separated for the final time. The mean rate at the time of separation was higher (lower) under speed (accuracy) conditions, as was the difference between this rate and the baseline rate (not shown). Importantly, our analysis in this section makes two predictions for electrophysiological studies of the SAT: (1) target-in and target-out data will separate at higher (lower) rates under speed (accuracy) conditions, and (2) the discrimination-baseline difference will be larger (smaller) under speed (accuracy) conditions.
4. Discussion and conclusions
We have demonstrated that spatially non-selective excitation can control the SAT in an attractor model (Figures 2B,C), as shown previously (Furman and Wang,
Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a cognitive signal controls the SAT by adjusting a uniform input to integrator populations (see Bogacz et al.,
There are potential advantages to choice thresholds being higher than decision thresholds. For example, a high choice threshold alleviates the need for fine tuning (Roxin and Ledberg,
Another perspective on the difficulties of equating the difference between the bound and the starting point of a decision variable with the threshold-baseline difference relates to levels of abstraction in models of brain function (Marr,
It is possible that a different kind of threshold-baseline difference could account for the SAT. If the baseline rate of thresholding circuitry were increased (decreased) under speed (accuracy) conditions, then lower rates of integrator activity would be sufficient to elicit choice behavior, i.e., to drive the relevant motor circuitry (see Standage et al.,
Finally, we do not suggest that single-circuit attractor models provide a complete picture of decision making. For example, these models produce slower mean decision times on error trials than correct trials because the network state has to cross the unstable manifold (Wong and Wang,
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Statements
Acknowledgments
Da-Hui Wang was supported by NSFC under Grant No.31271169. Dominic Standage and Gunnar Blohm were supported by CFI (Canada), ORF (Canada) and NSERC (Canada).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: http://www.frontiersin.org/journal/10.3389/fnins.2014.00318/abstract
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Summary
Keywords
speed-accuracy trade-off, neural dynamics, bounded integration, decision threshold, threshold-baseline difference
Citation
Standage D, Wang D-H and Blohm G (2014) Neural dynamics implement a flexible decision bound with a fixed firing rate for choice: a model-based hypothesis. Front. Neurosci. 8:318. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00318
Received
28 February 2014
Accepted
19 September 2014
Published
21 October 2014
Volume
8 - 2014
Edited by
Patrick Simen, Oberlin College, USA
Reviewed by
Samuel Franklin Feng, Princeton University, USA; Nicholas Cain, Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA
Copyright
© 2014 Standage, Wang and Blohm.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Dominic Standage, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Botterell Hall, Room 230, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada e-mail: standage@queensu.ca
This article was submitted to Decision Neuroscience, a section of the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience.
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