Determining a role for ventromedial prefrontal cortex in encoding action-based value signals during reward-related decision making
Standard
Determining a role for ventromedial prefrontal cortex in encoding action-based value signals during reward-related decision making. / Gläscher, Jan; Hampton, Alan N; O'Doherty, John P.
In: CEREB CORTEX, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2, 02.2009, p. 483-495.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Determining a role for ventromedial prefrontal cortex in encoding action-based value signals during reward-related decision making
AU - Gläscher, Jan
AU - Hampton, Alan N
AU - O'Doherty, John P
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - Considerable evidence has emerged to implicate ventromedial prefrontal cortex in encoding expectations of future reward during value-based decision making. However, the nature of the learned associations upon which such representations depend is much less clear. Here, we aimed to determine whether expected reward representations in this region could be driven by action-outcome associations, rather than being dependent on the associative value assigned to particular discriminative stimuli. Subjects were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing 2 variants of a simple reward-related decision task. In one version, subjects made choices between 2 different physical motor responses in the absence of discriminative stimuli, whereas in the other version, subjects chose between 2 different stimuli that were randomly assigned to different responses on a trial-by-trial basis. Using an extension of a reinforcement learning algorithm, we found activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex tracked expected future reward during the action-based task as well as during the stimulus-based task, indicating that value representations in this region can be driven by action-outcome associations. These findings suggest that ventromedial prefrontal cortex may play a role in encoding the value of chosen actions irrespective of whether those actions denote physical motor responses or more abstract decision options.
AB - Considerable evidence has emerged to implicate ventromedial prefrontal cortex in encoding expectations of future reward during value-based decision making. However, the nature of the learned associations upon which such representations depend is much less clear. Here, we aimed to determine whether expected reward representations in this region could be driven by action-outcome associations, rather than being dependent on the associative value assigned to particular discriminative stimuli. Subjects were scanned with functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing 2 variants of a simple reward-related decision task. In one version, subjects made choices between 2 different physical motor responses in the absence of discriminative stimuli, whereas in the other version, subjects chose between 2 different stimuli that were randomly assigned to different responses on a trial-by-trial basis. Using an extension of a reinforcement learning algorithm, we found activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex tracked expected future reward during the action-based task as well as during the stimulus-based task, indicating that value representations in this region can be driven by action-outcome associations. These findings suggest that ventromedial prefrontal cortex may play a role in encoding the value of chosen actions irrespective of whether those actions denote physical motor responses or more abstract decision options.
KW - Algorithms
KW - Cues
KW - Data Interpretation, Statistical
KW - Decision Making
KW - Discrimination (Psychology)
KW - Female
KW - Functional Laterality
KW - Humans
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Learning
KW - Logistic Models
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Male
KW - Models, Neurological
KW - Oxygen
KW - Photic Stimulation
KW - Prefrontal Cortex
KW - Psychomotor Performance
KW - Reversal Learning
KW - Reward
KW - Young Adult
KW - Journal Article
KW - Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
U2 - 10.1093/cercor/bhn098
DO - 10.1093/cercor/bhn098
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 18550593
VL - 19
SP - 483
EP - 495
JO - CEREB CORTEX
JF - CEREB CORTEX
SN - 1047-3211
IS - 2
M1 - 2
ER -