Human Orbitofrontal Cortex Represents a Cognitive Map of State Space

Schuck, Nicolas W.; Cai, Ming Bo; Wilson, Robert; Niv, Yaron

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2016.08.019

Cited by 513 publications

(586 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Although subgenual portions of vmPFC responded to larger path length differences at both initial and prospective choice points, we did not observe any vmPFC signals that correlated with subsequently correct choices or quicker subsequent RT. A potential explanation for this result could be that vmPFC initially helps locate task-relevant sub-goals and signals an update of the current state [19,66]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Neural Representation of Prospective Choice during Spatial Planning and Decisions

et al. 2017

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We are remarkably adept at inferring the consequences of our actions, yet the neuronal mechanisms that allow us to plan a sequence of novel choices remain unclear. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate how the human brain plans the shortest path to a goal in novel mazes with one (shallow maze) or two (deep maze) choice points. We observed two distinct anterior prefrontal responses to demanding choices at the second choice point: one in rostrodorsal medial prefrontal cortex (rd-mPFC)/superior frontal gyrus (SFG) that was also sensitive to (deactivated by) demanding initial choices and another in lateral frontopolar cortex (lFPC), which was only engaged by demanding choices at the second choice point. Furthermore, we identified hippocampal responses during planning that correlated with subsequent choice accuracy and response time, particularly in mazes affording sequential choices. Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses showed that coupling between the hippocampus and rd-mPFC increases during sequential (deep versus shallow) planning and is higher before correct versus incorrect choices. In short, using a naturalistic spatial planning paradigm, we reveal how the human brain represents sequential choices during planning without extensive training. Our data highlight a network centred on the cortical midline and hippocampus that allows us to make prospective choices while maintaining initial choices during planning in novel environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Neural Representation of Prospective Choice during Spatial Planning and Decisions

et al. 2017

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“…2) has another key role in instruction-driven changes in affect, namely linking affective events to contextual and semantic proceses (Constantinescu et al, 2016; Roy et al, 2012). This region is also important in value (Daw et al, 2006; Rushworth et al, 2011), internal thought (Andrews-Hanna, 2012; Andrews-Hanna et al, 2014), representation of state space (Schuck et al, 2016), and self-related processing (Jenkins and Mitchell, 2011; Kelley et al, 2002). Thus, we speculate that it might be crucial to translate more abstract instructed state representations into a self-referential space of expectations and conceptual meaning.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What’s in a word? How instructions, suggestions, and social information change pain and emotion

Koban

Jepma

Geuter

et al. 2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

125

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Instructions, suggestions, and other types of social information can have powerful effects on pain and emotion. Prominent examples include observational learning, social influence, placebo, and hypnosis. These different phenomena and their underlying brain mechanisms have been studied in partially separate literatures, which we discuss, compare, and integrate in this review. Converging findings from these literatures suggest that 1) instructions and social information affect brain systems associated with the generation of pain and emotion, and with reinforcement learning, and that 2) these changes are mediated by alterations in prefrontal systems responsible for top-down control and the generation of affective meaning. We argue that changes in expectation and appraisal, a process of assessing personal meaning and implications for wellbeing, are two potential key mediators of the effects of instructions and social information on affective experience. Finally, we propose a tentative model of how prefrontal regions, especially dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex may regulate affective processing based on instructions and socially transmitted expectations more broadly.

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“…This representation, or cognitive map, would support the actual learning, which is thought to take place in other brain regions. By this account, OFC would be especially important when task states are only partly observable, as is the case in reinforcer devaluation experiments (Lopatina et al, 2017; Schuck et al, 2016; Wilson et al, 2014). The notion of state in learning theory is germane to that of reference frame discussed here in the sense that adopting a particular frame of reference to describe an economic choice is analogous to adopting a particular set of states to describe a learning task.…”

Section: The Representation Of Goods and Values In Ofc: Flexible Butmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orbitofrontal Cortex: A Neural Circuit for Economic Decisions

Padoa-Schioppa

Conen

2017

Neuron

261

180

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Economic choice behavior entails the computation and comparison of subjective values. A central contribution of neuroeconomics has been to show that subjective values are represented explicitly at the neuronal level. With this result at hand, the field has increasingly focused on the difficult question of where in the brain and how exactly subjective values are compared to make a decision. Here we review a broad range of experimental and theoretical results suggesting that good-based decisions are generated in a neural circuit within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The main lines of evidence supporting this proposal include the fact that goal-directed behavior is specifically disrupted by OFC lesions, the fact that different groups of neurons in this area encode the input and the output of the decision process, the fact that activity fluctuations in each of these cell groups correlate with choice variability, and the fact that these groups of neurons are computationally sufficient to generate decisions. Results from other brain regions are consistent with the idea that good-based decisions take place in OFC, and indicate that value signals inform a variety of mental functions. We also contrast the present proposal with other leading models for the neural mechanisms of economic decisions. Finally, we indicate open questions and suggest possible directions for future research.

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Human Orbitofrontal Cortex Represents a Cognitive Map of State Space

Cited by 513 publications

References 42 publications

The Neural Representation of Prospective Choice during Spatial Planning and Decisions

The Neural Representation of Prospective Choice during Spatial Planning and Decisions

What’s in a word? How instructions, suggestions, and social information change pain and emotion

Orbitofrontal Cortex: A Neural Circuit for Economic Decisions

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