Monkey orbitofrontal cortex encodes response choices near feedback time

S. Tsujimoto, ALDO GENOVESIO, S. P. Wise

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

The primate prefrontal cortex contributes to stimulus-guided behavior, but the functional specializations among its areas remain uncertain. To better understand such specializations, we contrasted neuronal activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFdl) and the orbital prefrontal cortex (PFo). The task required rhesus monkeys to use a visual cue to choose a saccade target. Some cues instructed the monkeys to repeat their most recent response; others instructed them to change it. Responses were followed by feedback: fluid reward if correct, visual feedback if incorrect. Previous studies, using different tasks, have reported that PFo neurons did not encode responses. We found PFo did encode responses in this task, but only near feedback time, after the response had been completed. PFdl differed from PFo in several respects. As reported previously, some PFdl neurons encoded responses from the previous trial and others encoded planned responses. PFo neurons did not have these properties. After feedback, PFdl encoded rewarded responses better than unrewarded ones and thus combined response and outcome information. PFo, in contrast, encoded the responses chosen, rewarded or not. These findings suggest that PFdl and PFo contribute differently to response knowledge, with PFo using an outcome-independent signal to monitor current responses at feedback time. Copyright © 2009 Society for Neuroscience.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2569-2574
Number of pages6
JournalTHE JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Volume29
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Keywords

  • decision
  • evaluation
  • feedback
  • frontal lobe
  • monitoring
  • prefrontal cortex

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Monkey orbitofrontal cortex encodes response choices near feedback time'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this