How the brain distinguishes the consequences of our own choices from events beyond our control
A study led by the University of Oxford has identified the brain mechanisms that help us work out whether the consequences we experience are caused by our own actions or by circumstances beyond our control.
A University of Oxford-led study has uncovered the brain mechanisms that help us differentiate between outcomes caused by our own actions and those beyond our control. Published in Neuron, the research indicates that both confidence in our decisions and estimates of external circumstances play crucial roles in this process. Participants in the study were more likely to attribute unexpected negative outcomes to external factors when they were confident in their decisions, while less certain individuals were more inclined to blame their own performance.
The researchers utilized ultra-high-field brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation to identify two prefrontal-subcortical circuits involved in this distinction. One circuit connects the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) with the dorsal raphe nucleus, a brain area linked to serotonin and treatments for depression. This connection suggests that alterations in serotonin levels can impact our perception of control.
The study demonstrates that our sense of control profoundly influences learning from success and failure. Correctly attributing outcomes to our actions or external factors helps us adapt our behavior accordingly. For instance, an archer might adjust their technique or compensate for factors like wind based on whether they believe the miss was their fault or due to external conditions.
Lead author Dr. Yanhe Liu emphasized that distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable outcomes is essential for effective learning. Making the wrong attribution could lead to learning the wrong lessons. This distinction, crucial for adaptation, has been linked to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia in previous research.
The findings provide a foundation for understanding how altered perceptions of control can lead to biased or disrupted cognitive processes. Future research could explore the potential implications of these brain mechanisms on clinical interventions for mental health disorders characterized by distorted senses of control.
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