Common coding of expected value and value uncertainty memories in the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia output.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33980480.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abe0693 and PMC identifier 8115923.
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Abstract
Recent evidence implicates both basal ganglia and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) in encoding value memories. However, comparative roles of cortical and basal nodes in value memory are not well understood. Here, single-unit recordings in vlPFC and substantia nigra reticulata (SNr), within macaque monkeys, revealed a larger value signal in SNr that was nevertheless correlated with and had a comparable onset to the vlPFC value signal. The value signal was maintained for many objects (>90) many weeks after reward learning and was resistant to extinction in both regions and to repetition suppression in vlPFC. Both regions showed comparable granularity in encoding expected value and value uncertainty, which was paralleled by enhanced gaze bias during free viewing. The value signal dynamics in SNr could be predicted by combining responses of vlPFC neurons according to their value preferences consistent with a scheme in which cortical neurons reached SNr via direct and indirect pathways.