Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
07:05
Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
Published on: September 10, 2018
In monkeys making value-based decisions, LIP neurons encode cue salience and not action value
Marvin L Leathers1, Carl R Olson
1Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Mellon Institute, Room 115, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. mleathers@cnbc.cmu.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 9, 2012
Summary
Lateral intraparietal (LIP) neurons signal both rewards and penalties, indicating sensitivity to motivational salience. This challenges the view that LIP neurons solely encode action value in decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Decision-making research
- Primate cognition
Background:
- Lateral intraparietal (LIP) neurons in monkeys have been thought to encode the value of potential saccadic eye movements.
- Previous interpretations suggested LIP neurons mediate value-based decisions by firing proportionally to expected rewards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of LIP neurons in decision-making beyond reward value.
- To determine if LIP neurons are sensitive to negative outcomes (penalties) as well as positive outcomes (rewards).
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings from LIP neurons in monkeys performing a saccadic eye movement task.
- Manipulating expected rewards and penalties associated with different saccade targets.
Main Results:
- LIP neurons fired strongly not only for saccades associated with large rewards but also for those associated with large penalties.
- This demonstrates that LIP neurons are sensitive to the motivational salience of cues, reflecting both potential gains and losses.
Conclusions:
- LIP neurons do not exclusively represent action value; they are involved in processing motivational salience.
- The findings challenge the hypothesis that LIP neurons directly mediate value-based decisions between saccades, suggesting a broader role in representing stimulus significance.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can have a...
01:20Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Cognitive psychologist Richard Lazarus proposed the cognitive-mediational theory of emotions, which emphasizes how individuals' assessments of stressors significantly affect their experience of stress. According to Lazarus, the stress response is determined by a two-step appraisal process: primary appraisal and secondary appraisal. These cognitive appraisals help individuals evaluate the potential impact of a stressor and determine the adequacy of their coping resources.
Primary Appraisal:...
Primary Appraisal:...
01:14Decision Making: Traditional Method
The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using the sample data, and interpreting these values.
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is decided based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to this claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses, out of which a null hypothesis would be a...
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...
01:21Cognitive Learning
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...