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Orbitofrontal cortex contributes to the comparison of values underlying economic choices
Sébastien Ballesta1,2,3, Weikang Shi1,4, Camillo Padoa-Schioppa5,6,7
1Department of Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
Nature Communications
|July 29, 2022
Summary
Neuroscientists found that stimulating the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) disrupts subjective value comparison in monkeys. This suggests OFC neurons play a key role in comparing economic choices.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Decision-making research
- Neuroeconomics
Background:
- Economic choices involve comparing subjective values.
- Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) neurons encode offer values and chosen item values.
- Previous research linked OFC activity to choices but not directly to value comparison.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in value comparison during economic decision-making.
- To determine if OFC activity is necessary for comparing subjective values of different goods.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings in monkeys performing juice-choice tasks.
- Application of weak electrical stimulation to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).
- Analysis of neuronal activity related to offer values, chosen items, and subjective value comparison.
Main Results:
- Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) stimulation selectively impaired value comparison processes.
- Neuronal stimulation did not alter the encoding of individual offer values.
- Evidence supports a causal role for OFC in the comparison stage of economic choice.
Conclusions:
- Neuronal populations within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are critical for comparing subjective values.
- The OFC is directly involved in the computation required for economic decision-making.
- These findings advance our understanding of the neural basis of choice.
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