Psychophysical reverse correlation reflects both sensory and decision-making processes

Gouki Okazawa, Long Sha, Braden A. Purcell and Roozbeh Kiani ()
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Gouki Okazawa: New York University
Long Sha: New York University
Braden A. Purcell: New York University
Roozbeh Kiani: New York University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Goal-directed behavior depends on both sensory mechanisms that gather information from the outside world and decision-making mechanisms that select appropriate behavior based on that sensory information. Psychophysical reverse correlation is commonly used to quantify how fluctuations of sensory stimuli influence behavior and is generally believed to uncover the spatiotemporal weighting functions of sensory processes. Here we show that reverse correlations also reflect decision-making processes and can deviate significantly from the true sensory filters. Specifically, changes of decision bound and mechanisms of evidence integration systematically alter psychophysical reverse correlations. Similarly, trial-to-trial variability of sensory and motor delays and decision times causes systematic distortions in psychophysical kernels that should not be attributed to sensory mechanisms. We show that ignoring details of the decision-making process results in misinterpretation of reverse correlations, but proper use of these details turns reverse correlation into a powerful method for studying both sensory and decision-making mechanisms.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05797-y

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