The whole prefrontal cortex is premotor cortex

Fine, Justin M.; Hayden, Benjamin Y.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2020.0524

Cited by 70 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 161 publications

(258 reference statements)

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“…While the non-relay functions of thalamic nuclei in the human brain are suspected, evidence remains indirect and, to our knowledge, this is one of the few direct demonstrations that a human thalamic area engages in a task not to relay sensory inputs. In addition, this finding also relates to controversies about the direction of communication between the dlPFC and OFC where some evidence points to the OFC as the recipient of multi-modal sensory input [ 49 ] and thereby, likely forwarding such information to dlPFC, while other evidence points to OFC being hierarchically higher and contextualizing representations in dlPFC [ 50 ]. Our findings are in support of the later view, at least in this task.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility

et al. 2022

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Interactions across frontal cortex are critical for cognition. Animal studies suggest a role for mediodorsal thalamus (MD) in these interactions, but the computations performed and direct relevance to human decision making are unclear. Here, inspired by animal work, we extended a neural model of an executive frontal-MD network and trained it on a human decision-making task for which neuroimaging data were collected. Using a biologically-plausible learning rule, we found that the model MD thalamus compressed its cortical inputs (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, dlPFC) underlying stimulus-response representations. Through direct feedback to dlPFC, this thalamic operation efficiently partitioned cortical activity patterns and enhanced task switching across different contingencies. To account for interactions with other frontal regions, we expanded the model to compute higher-order strategy signals outside dlPFC, and found that the MD offered a more efficient route for such signals to switch dlPFC activity patterns. Human fMRI data provided evidence that the MD engaged in feedback to dlPFC, and had a role in routing orbitofrontal cortex inputs when subjects switched behavioral strategy. Collectively, our findings contribute to the emerging evidence for thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in the human brain.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility

et al. 2022

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“…These include motor signals (Musall et al, 2019a and b;Stringer et al, 2019;Steinmetz et al, 2019) and reward signals (Vickery et al, 2011;Shin et al, 2021;Ottenheimer et al, 2022). These findings raise the possibility that like other cognitive functions, navigation may also be more distributed than previously assumed, perhaps as part of a gradient characterized by gradual untangling rather than strict functional borders (Fine et al, 2022;Fuster, 2000 and2001;. Thus, evidence of widespread distribution of navigational codes would support their posited role in anchoring elements of cognition to maps of embodied space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Widespread coding of navigational variables in prefrontal cortex

Maisson

Voloh

Cervera

et al. 2022

Preprint

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To navigate, we must represent information about our place in the environment. Traditional research highlights the role of the hippocampal complex in this process. Spurred by recent research highlighting the widespread cortical encoding of cognitive and motor variables previously thought to have localized function, we hypothesized that navigational variables would be likewise encoded widely, especially in the prefrontal cortex, which is often associated with control of volitional behavior. We recorded neural activity from six prefrontal structures while macaques performed a foraging task in an open enclosure. In all six regions, we found strong encoding of allocentric position, head direction, egocentric boundary distance, and linear and angular velocity. These encodings were not accounted for by distance or time to reward. Strength of coding of all variables increase along a ventral-to-dorsal gradient. Together these results argue that encoding of navigational variables is not localized to the hippocampal complex and support the hypothesis that navigation is continuous with other forms of flexible cognition in the service of action.

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“…Our finding that the many of the same neurons supporting an abstract code can be bound to a spatial domain argues against the idea that there is an anatomical distinction between value and action frames (Fine and Hayden, 2022;Hayden and Niv, 2021); they further suggest that that the principle of binding through semi-orthogonal subspaces is found throughout the cortical reward system. Together, these results highlight the potential value of functional specialization through population representation, rather than through modular architecture, for solving long-standing problems in neuroeconomics (Ebitz and Hayden, 2021;Urai et al, 2021;Saxena and Cunningham, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Subspace alignment as a mechanism for binding

Fine

Yoo²,

Ebitz

et al. 2021

Preprint

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To choose between options, we must solve two important binding problems. First, the features that determine each options’ values must be appropriately combined and kept separate from the corresponding features of other options. Second, options must be associated with the specific actions needed to select them. We hypothesized that the brain solves these problems through use of aligned (for bound dimensions) and orthogonal (for separated dimensions) population subspaces. We examined responses of single neurons in six putative value-coding regions in rhesus macaques performing a risky choice task. In all areas, single neurons encode the features that define the value of each option (stakes and probability) but only very weakly encode value per se. However, the coding dimensions associated with these features are aligned on a single subspace, from which a strong emergent value signal can be read out. Moreover, all six regions use nearly orthogonal subspaces for the left and right options, thereby linking options to their position in space, implementing functional partitioning, and reducing the possibility of misbinding. These results provide a new solution to the neuroeconomic binding problems and suggest that other forms of binding may work through similar principles.

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The whole prefrontal cortex is premotor cortex

Cited by 70 publications

References 161 publications

Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility

Thalamic regulation of frontal interactions in human cognitive flexibility

Widespread coding of navigational variables in prefrontal cortex

Subspace alignment as a mechanism for binding

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