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Goal commitment is supported by vmPFC through selective attention

Author

Listed:
  • Eleanor Holton

    (University of Oxford)

  • Jan Grohn

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Harry Ward

    (Queen Mary University London (QMUL))

  • Sanjay G. Manohar

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Jill X. O’Reilly

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Nils Kolling

    (University of Oxford
    Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1)

Abstract

When striking a balance between commitment to a goal and flexibility in the face of better options, people often demonstrate strong goal perseveration. Here, using functional MRI (n = 30) and lesion patient (n = 26) studies, we argue that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) drives goal commitment linked to changes in goal-directed selective attention. Participants performed an incremental goal pursuit task involving sequential decisions between persisting with a goal versus abandoning progress for better alternative options. Individuals with stronger goal perseveration showed higher goal-directed attention in an interleaved attention task. Increasing goal-directed attention also affected abandonment decisions: while pursuing a goal, people lost their sensitivity to valuable alternative goals while remaining more sensitive to changes in the current goal. In a healthy population, individual differences in both commitment biases and goal-oriented attention were predicted by baseline goal-related activity in the vmPFC. Among lesion patients, vmPFC damage reduced goal commitment, leading to a performance benefit.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleanor Holton & Jan Grohn & Harry Ward & Sanjay G. Manohar & Jill X. O’Reilly & Nils Kolling, 2024. "Goal commitment is supported by vmPFC through selective attention," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 1351-1365, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:8:y:2024:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-024-01844-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01844-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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