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The role of the human hippocampus in decision-making under uncertainty

Author

Listed:
  • Bahaaeddin Attaallah

    (University of Oxford)

  • Pierre Petitet

    (University of Oxford)

  • Rhea Zambellas

    (University of Oxford)

  • Sofia Toniolo

    (University of Oxford)

  • Maria Raquel Maio

    (University of Oxford)

  • Akke Ganse-Dumrath

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Sarosh R. Irani

    (University of Oxford)

  • Sanjay G. Manohar

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Masud Husain

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

Abstract

The role of the hippocampus in decision-making is beginning to be more understood. Because of its prospective and inferential functions, we hypothesized that it might be required specifically when decisions involve the evaluation of uncertain values. A group of individuals with autoimmune limbic encephalitis—a condition known to focally affect the hippocampus—were tested on how they evaluate reward against uncertainty compared to reward against another key attribute: physical effort. Across four experiments requiring participants to make trade-offs between reward, uncertainty and effort, patients with acute limbic encephalitis demonstrated blunted sensitivity to reward and effort whenever uncertainty was considered, despite demonstrating intact uncertainty sensitivity. By contrast, the valuation of these two attributes (reward and effort) was intact on uncertainty-free tasks. Reduced sensitivity to changes in reward under uncertainty correlated with the severity of hippocampal damage. Together, these findings provide evidence for a context-sensitive role of the hippocampus in value-based decision-making, apparent specifically under conditions of uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Bahaaeddin Attaallah & Pierre Petitet & Rhea Zambellas & Sofia Toniolo & Maria Raquel Maio & Akke Ganse-Dumrath & Sarosh R. Irani & Sanjay G. Manohar & Masud Husain, 2024. "The role of the human hippocampus in decision-making under uncertainty," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 1366-1382, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:8:y:2024:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-024-01855-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01855-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    2. Brad E. Pfeiffer & David J. Foster, 2013. "Hippocampal place-cell sequences depict future paths to remembered goals," Nature, Nature, vol. 497(7447), pages 74-79, May.
    3. Myerson, Joel & Green, Leonard & Scott Hanson, J. & Holt, Daniel D. & Estle, Sara J., 2003. "Discounting delayed and probabilistic rewards: Processes and traits," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 619-635, October.
    4. Tara A. LeGates & Mark D. Kvarta & Jessica R. Tooley & T. Chase Francis & Mary Kay Lobo & Meaghan C. Creed & Scott M. Thompson, 2018. "Reward behaviour is regulated by the strength of hippocampus–nucleus accumbens synapses," Nature, Nature, vol. 564(7735), pages 258-262, December.
    5. Pierre Petitet & Bahaaeddin Attaallah & Sanjay G. Manohar & Masud Husain, 2021. "Publisher Correction: The computational cost of active information sampling before decision-making under uncertainty," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 961-963, July.
    6. Pierre Petitet & Bahaaeddin Attaallah & Sanjay G. Manohar & Masud Husain, 2021. "The computational cost of active information sampling before decision-making under uncertainty," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 935-946, July.
    7. Yuen-Siang Ang & Patricia Lockwood & Matthew A J Apps & Kinan Muhammed & Masud Husain, 2017. "Distinct Subtypes of Apathy Revealed by the Apathy Motivation Index," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
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