RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Ventromedial and Orbital Prefrontal Neurons Differentially Encode Internally and Externally Driven Motivational Values in Monkeys
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 8591
OP 8601
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0049-10.2010
VO 30
IS 25
A1 Sebastien Bouret
A1 Barry J. Richmond
YR 2010
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/25/8591.abstract
AB The value of events that predict future rewards, thereby driving behavior, is sensitive to information arising from external (environmental) and internal factors. The ventral prefrontal cortex, an anatomically heterogeneous area, has information related to this value. We designed experiments to compare the contribution of two distinct subregions, orbital and ventromedial, of the ventral prefrontal cortex to the encoding of internal and external factors controlling the perceived motivational value. We recorded the activity of single neurons in both regions in monkeys while manipulating internal and external factors that should affect the perceived value of task events. Neurons in both regions encoded the value of task events, with orbitofrontal neurons being more sensitive to external factors such as visual cues and ventromedial neurons being more sensitive to internal factors such as satiety. Thus, the orbitofrontal cortex emphasizes signals for evaluating environment-centered, externally driven motivational processes, whereas ventromedial prefrontal cortex emphasizes signals more suited for subject-centered, internally driven motivational processes.