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Orbitofrontal neurons infer the value and identity of predicted outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas A. Stalnaker

    (National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, Behavioral Neurophysiology Research Section)

  • Nisha K. Cooch

    (University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street)

  • Michael A. McDannald

    (University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street)

  • Tzu-Lan Liu

    (University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street)

  • Heather Wied

    (University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street)

  • Geoffrey Schoenbaum

    (National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, Behavioral Neurophysiology Research Section
    University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street
    Johns Hopkins University)

Abstract

The best way to respond flexibly to changes in the environment is to anticipate them. Such anticipation often benefits us if we can infer that a change has occurred, before we have actually experienced the effects of that change. Here we test for neural correlates of this process by recording single-unit activity in the orbitofrontal cortex in rats performing a choice task in which the available rewards changed across blocks of trials. Consistent with the proposal that orbitofrontal cortex signals inferred information, firing changes at the start of each new block as if predicting the not-yet-experienced reward. This change occurs whether the new reward is different in number of drops, requiring signalling of a new value, or in flavour, requiring signalling of a new sensory feature. These results show that orbitofrontal neurons provide a behaviourally relevant signal that reflects inferences about both value-relevant and value-neutral information about impending outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas A. Stalnaker & Nisha K. Cooch & Michael A. McDannald & Tzu-Lan Liu & Heather Wied & Geoffrey Schoenbaum, 2014. "Orbitofrontal neurons infer the value and identity of predicted outcomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4926
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4926
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    Cited by:

    1. Qingfang Liu & Yao Zhao & Sumedha Attanti & Joel L. Voss & Geoffrey Schoenbaum & Thorsten Kahnt, 2024. "Midbrain signaling of identity prediction errors depends on orbitofrontal cortex networks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Kiyohito Iigaya & Sanghyun Yi & Iman A. Wahle & Sandy Tanwisuth & Logan Cross & John P. O’Doherty, 2023. "Neural mechanisms underlying the hierarchical construction of perceived aesthetic value," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.

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