Examining neuroanatomical correlates of win-stay, lose-shift behaviour

Abstract

This study aimed to better understand the neuroanatomical correlates of decision-making strategies, particularly focusing on win-stay and lose-shift behaviours, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in a large cohort of healthy adults. Participants completed a forced-choice card-guessing task designed to elicit behavioural responses to rewards and losses. Using this task, we investigated the relationship between win-stay and lose-shift behaviour and both grey matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV). The frequency of win-stay and lose-shift behaviours was calculated for each participant and entered into VBM analyses alongside GMV and WMV measures. Our results revealed that increased lose-shift behaviour was associated with reduced GMV in key brain regions, comprising of the left superior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, and the bilateral superior lateral occipital cortices. Interestingly, no significant associations were found between GMV or WMV, and win-stay behaviour. These results suggest that specific regions within the temporal and occipital lobes may be involved in modulating decision-making strategies following negative outcomes. Further analyses revealed that increased lose-shift behaviour was also associated with increased WMV in the left superior temporal gyrus. The absence of significant findings in relation to win-stay behaviour and the differential involvement of brain structures in lose-shift responses indicate that decision-making in the face of losses may involve distinct neuroanatomical mechanisms compared to decision-making following wins. This study advances our understanding of the structural brain correlates linked to decision-making strategies and highlights the complexity of brain-behaviour relationships in choice behaviour.

Keywords: Decision-making; Grey matter volume; Occipital cortex; White matter volume; Win-stay, Lose-shift.

Fig. 1

Card guessing task collected as part of the HCP data set. The top panel depicts a ‘reward’ trial. The lower panel depicts a ‘loss’ trial. Participants were required to guess whether the value of a card was higher or lower than 5. If correct, participants received a reward of $1. If incorrect, they incurred a loss of $0.50. Note: This figure has been created for illustrative purposes and is not a direct visual example of the task

Fig. 2

Boxplot depicting the percentage of overall trials within the four decision strategies. The black straight line indicates the median values for each strategy. The black dotted line indicates the mean value for each strategy. For lose-stay and lose-shift behaviour, the median and mean lines overlap. On average, participants employed the Win-Stay strategy in 26.81% of trials, Lose-Stay in 28.06%, Win-Shift in 23.12%, and Lose-Shift in 22.00% of trials

Fig. 3

Whole brain statistical maps in MNI space showing negative correlations between GMV and lose-shift behaviour. Slices were chosen to best display the area of interest alongside plots comparing GMV against lose-shift behaviour. FWE = .05. A: Coronal view of left STG (r = −0.04, p < .001). B: Coronal view of right MTG (r = −0.03, p < .001). C: Sagittal view of right SLOC (r = −0.04, p < .001). D: Axial view of left SLOC (r = −0.03, p < .001). Slices were chosen to clearly identify brain regions associated with lose-shift behaviour. T maps are shown in radiological inversion

Fig. 4

Figure in MNI space illustrating increases in WMV within the left superior temporal gyrus associated with lose-shift behaviour. T-map is shown in radiological inversion