A functional difference in information processing between orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum during decision-making behaviour

Abstract

Both orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and ventral striatum (vStr) have been identified as key structures that represent information about value in decision-making tasks. However, the dynamics of how this information is processed are not yet understood. We recorded ensembles of cells from OFC and vStr in rats engaged in the spatial adjusting delay-discounting task , a decision-making task that involves a trade-off between delay to and magnitude of reward. Ventral striatal neural activity signalled information about reward before the rat's decision, whereas such reward-related signals were absent in OFC until after the animal had committed to its decision. These data support models in which vStr is directly involved in action selection, but OFC processes decision-related information afterwards that can be used to compare the predicted and actual consequences of behaviour.

Signatures of Value Comparison in Ventral Striatum Neurons

“…Nonetheless, these data can exclude the hypothesis that choice occurs and is complete prior to information entering into VS. Another possibility is that VS, and not vmPFC, is the site at which comparison occurs. Indeed, one recent paper reported effects consistent with this hypothesis in rats [45]. Future work will be needed to resolve this question.…”

Manipulating Decisiveness in Decision Making: Effects of Clonidine on Hippocampal Search Strategies

“…Clonidine has antihypertensive and sedative/analgesic effects (Spyraki and Fibiger, 1982), as well as cognitive effects on attention and exploratory state (Aston-Jones and Cohen, 2005). We do not think motivational effects are likely to have caused the decrease in laps because there was no difference in running speed between conditions.…”

The principles of goal-directed decision-making: from neural mechanisms to computation and robotics

“…cortex, striatum and hippocampus) orchestrated for goal-directed choice?' All the contributions to the first topic [13][14][15][16][17][18] but also other contributions [35] present pieces of evidence to solve this complex puzzle. Research in the field is often compartmentalized, with scholars that tend to develop theories that are prefrontal-centric or striatumcentric depending on the empirical methods and target areas they choose.…”

“…If, for example, we consider that multiple brain substrates have been linked to utility representation and computations (e.g. OFC, amygdala and vStr), it is necessary to disentangle their specific roles [17] but also to connect all of them within a general framework [35]. Furthermore, this Special Issue indicates how ecological and evolutionary considerations can guide research in the field; for example, by considering how complex cognitive control abilities might derive from the sophistication of initially simpler neuronal systems [14,34,39].…”