Representations of the intrinsic value of information in mouse orbitofrontal cortex

Abstract

SUMMARYAnimals are motivated to acquire knowledge of their world. They seek information that does not influence reward outcomes suggesting that information has intrinsic value. We have asked whether mice value information and whether a representation of information value can be detected in mouse orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). We have developed an odor-based behavioral task in which mice choose to acquire information even though it does not alter the reward outcome. We observe that mice choose to acquire knowledge about uncertain reward and are willing to sacrifice water for information suggesting that knowledge is of intrinsic value to a mouse. We imaged neural activity in OFC while mice performed the information seeking task and observed different but overlapping populations of neurons responsive to odors predictive of information and odors predictive of water reward. Moreover, a nonlinear latent variable model recapitulated these distinct representations in the low-dimensional dynamics of OFC neuronal population activity. These data suggest that mice have evolved distinct pathways in OFC that represent the intrinsic value of knowledge and the extrinsic value of water reward. Thus, the desire to acquire knowledge is conserved in mice and the value of knowledge is represented in the OFC.

Do goldfish like to be informed?

“…Our protocol retained as much as possible the critical features of the task used in other species. Furthermore, unlike studies where subjects incur reward losses by preferring the informative option (24,25,29,(60)(61)(62)(63), to avoid the possibility of masking preference for information due to sensitivity to loss, in our study the informative and uninformative options were equally profitable.…”

“…Some experimental observations and theoretical models support the view that individuals may ascribe value to stimuli because they are informative, independent of associated instrumental utility (10)(11)(12)(13). In particular, in an experimental protocol often referred to as 'paradoxical choice', or 'non-instrumental information-seeking', humans (14)(15)(16)(17)(18) and subjects from other mammalian (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), and avian (25)(26)(27)(28)(29) species, seek information about forthcoming outcomes (i.e. food/no food), even though in the experimental protocols the information cannot be used to modify outcomes, and may come at considerable cost (see also "observing responses" 8).…”