Tipping points in the brain: circuit and computational mechanisms of decision commitment

Every day, we make countless rapid decisions—ranging from what to say next to what to order from a menu—all requiring fast, coordinated brain activity. One of our projects focuses on the computational, circuit, and synaptic mechanisms of decision-making. We are specifically interested in how the brain transitions from gathering evidence to the distinct state of “making up one’s mind.” Our goal is to identify the brain regions, synaptic pathways, and dynamical system models that underlie decision commitment.

We employ a multidisciplinary approach:

• Large-scale Electrophysiology: We record high-density neural activity in rats during decision-making tasks.

• Computational Modeling: We apply machine learning to infer low-dimensional neural dynamics and identify network models capturing nonlinear features, such as abrupt input sensitivity loss and trial-to-trial variability.

• Causal Perturbations: We probe neural mechanisms through optogenetic stimulation and pharmacological inactivation.

By establishing a rigorous mechanistic framework for decision-making in animal models, our work informs how these cognitive processes may be disrupted in disorders characterized by impaired decision-making.