Research ReportThe neural predictors of choice preference in intertemporal choice

Intertemporal choice may involve two processing stages: a valuation stage and a choice stage. Decision makers must integrate the various dimensions of an option (e.g., money, time) into a single measure of its subjective value (the valuation stage) and then choose the option that is the most valuable (the choice stage). Although previous studies have implicated that subjective values are represented by a diverse set of brain regions (e.g., vmPFC, VStr, and PCC) in intertemporal choice, it is not yet known which of these regions contain information that directly predicts subsequent choice. To address this question, we measured brain activity using functional MRI while participants performed a simple intertemporal choice task. The results found that participants' decision could be encoded by three specific brain areas (vmPFC, ACC, and PCC) even before they were required to make a choice, while the left posterior insula showed positively active in the choice stage when individuals selected the delayed rewards compared to the immediate rewards. These findings suggest that activation patterns in the vmPFC, ACC, and PCC were able to predict the subsequent choice preference; however, left posterior insula may play an important role for choice preference in the choice stage.

► We reported the neural mechanisms of choice preference in intertemporal choice. ► In the valuation stage, strong activations were found in vmPFC, ACC and PCC. ► Activation patterns in the three regions were able to predict the choice preference. ► When selecting delayed rewards, greater activation was found in posterior insula. ► Posterior insula may play a regulating role for choice preference in choice stage.