Reinstatement of cortical outcome representations during higher-order learning

Abstract

Higher-order learning mechanisms like second-order conditioning (SOC) may allow agents to infer value in environments with sparse rewards. Surprisingly little is known about the neural mechanism underlying value transfer in SOC. Here, we show that SOC may be supported by reinstatement of outcome representations in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and interactions of OFC with amygdala. Our data suggest a mechanism by which value is conferred to stimuli that were never paired with reinforcement.