Theta but not beta activity is modulated by freedom of choice during action selection

Abstract

Large-scale neurophysiological markers of action competition have been almost exclusively investigated in the context of instructed choices, hence it remains unclear whether these markers also apply to free choices. This study aimed to compare the specific brain dynamics underlying instructed and free decisions. Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded while 31 participants performed a target selection task; the choice relied either on stimulus–response mappings (instructed) or on participants’ preferences (free). Choice difficulty was increased by introducing distractors in the informative stimulus in instructed choices, and by presenting targets with similar motor costs in free choices. Results revealed that increased decision difficulty was associated with higher reaction times (RTs) in instructed choices and greater choice uncertainty in free choices. Midfrontal EEG theta (4–8 Hz) power increased with difficulty in instructed choices, but not in free choices. Although sensorimotor beta (15–30 Hz) power was correlated with RTs, it was not significantly influenced by choice context or difficulty. These results suggest that midfrontal theta power may specifically increase with difficulty in externally-driven choices, whereas sensorimotor beta power may be predictive of RTs in both externally- and internally-driven choices.

A novel EEG-based paradigm to measure intergroup prosociality. An intergenerational study in the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda

“…Importantly, it has been suggested that analyzing RT as a marker of cognitive conflict in free-choice condition may not be reliable (Wong et al, 2017). In a recent study, the authors did not find difference in RT between easy and hard trials in a free-choice condition, while this difference was present in the instructed condition (Pierrieau et al, 2022). In another study, the authors suggested that free-choice tasks are similar random generation tasks and do not reflect a process of preference generation .…”

A novel electroencephalography-based paradigm to measure intergroup prosociality: An intergenerational study in the aftermath of the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.

“…The inconsistence between RT and behaviors in the free-choice condition in both groups could be explained by the fact that interpreting RT only as a marker of cognitive conflict in free-choice conditions may not be reliable (Naefgen et al, 2018; Pierrieau et al, 2022; Wong et al, 2017). It is important to note that different decision strategies can be employed in free-choice scenarios, which can influence RT (Vogel et al, 2018).…”