RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 064741
DO 10.1101/064741
A1 Wojciech Zajkowski
A1 Malgorzata Kossut
A1 Robert C. Wilson
YR 2016
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/07/19/064741.abstract
AB The explore-exploit dilemma occurs anytime we must choose between exploring unknown options for information and exploiting known resources for reward. Previous work suggests that people use two different strategies to solve the explore-exploit dilemma: directed exploration driven by information seeking and random exploration driven by decision noise. Here, we show that these two strategies rely on different neural systems. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to selectively inhibit right frontopolar cortex, we were able to selectively inhibit directed exploration while leaving random exploration intact, suggesting a causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration.