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In many situations, decision makers need to negotiate between the competing demands of response speed and response accuracy, a dilemma generally known as the speed-accuracy tradeoff (SAT). Despite the ubiquity of SAT, the question of how neural decision circuits implement SAT has received little attention up until a year ago. We review recent studies that show SAT is modulated in association and pre-motor areas rather than in sensory or primary motor areas. Furthermore, the studies suggest that emphasis on response speed increases the baseline firing rate of cortical integrator neurons. We also review current theories on how and where in the brain the SAT is controlled, and we end by proposing research directions that could distinguish between these theories.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.tins.2009.09.002

Type

Journal article

Journal

Trends Neurosci

Publication Date

01/2010

Volume

33

Pages

10 - 16

Keywords

Brain, Humans, Models, Neurological, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time