The Urge to Decide and Act: Implications for Brain Function and Dysfunction

Neuroscientist. 2019 Oct;25(5):491-511. doi: 10.1177/1073858419841553. Epub 2019 May 8.

Abstract

Humans and other animals are motivated to act so as to maximize their subjective reward rate. Here, we propose that reward rate maximization is accomplished by adjusting a context-dependent "urgency signal," which influences both the commitment to a developing action choice and the vigor with which the ensuing action is performed. We review behavioral and neurophysiological data suggesting that urgency is controlled by projections from the basal ganglia to cerebral cortical regions, influencing neural activity related to decision making as well as activity related to action execution. We also review evidence suggesting that different individuals possess specific policies for adjusting their urgency signal to particular contextual variables, such that urgency constitutes an individual trait which jointly influences a wide range of behavioral measures commonly related to the overall quality and hastiness of one's decisions and actions. Consequently, we argue that a central mechanism for reward rate maximization provides a potential link between personality traits such as impulsivity, as well as some of the motivation-related symptomology of clinical disorders such as depression and Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; basal ganglia; decision making; depression; impulsivity; motivation; personality; reward rate; urgency; vigor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basal Ganglia / physiology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Choice Behavior / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological
  • Motivation / physiology*
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / psychology
  • Reward*

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