A neuroeconomic analysis of intertemporal decision-making: EEG source localization

Abstract

Using EEG, we studied the neural correlates of intertemporal decision making when subjects made binary choices between smaller/earlier and larger/later money amounts for 40 trials. We analyzed EEG data by using preprocessing and source localization. Then, we used multiple logit models with neural data or behavioral data to explain participants’ responses. In behavioral analysis, we got expected results which is consistent with economic literature and previous studies. When early (late) reward increases, people are more likely to choose early (late) reward. Also, we found that when if early option is today, people are more likely to choose early option. In neural analysis, we observed that there exist two separate systems like McClure et al. (2004) fMRI study. In addition to some regions (lateral prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, primary visual and motor cortices) which McClure et al. (2004) identified in their study, we found that activations (or deactivations) of superior temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, anterior prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, angular gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus are significantly correlated with the responses for at least one epoch of the pre-decision period.