The Representation of Decision Variables in Orbitofrontal Cortex is Longitudinally Stable

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Decision Science
• Computational Neuroscience

Background:

• The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is crucial for computing subjective values in economic choices.
• Distinct neuronal populations within the OFC encode option values, choice outcomes, and chosen values, suggesting a decision circuit structure.

Approach:

• Utilized two-photon calcium imaging in mice making choices between different juice flavors.
• Recorded neural activity from individual cells over periods up to 20 weeks.
• Assessed longitudinal stability by comparing neural activity profiles and encoded variables across sessions using cosine similarity.

Key Points:

• Neural circuits in the OFC exhibit significant longitudinal stability.
• A modest representational drift was observed in neuronal activity over time.
• Quantitative analysis suggests drift does not randomize the circuit within an animal's lifespan.

Conclusions:

• The neuronal ensembles in the OFC are stable building blocks of economic decision-making circuits.
• The observed representational drift is slow and unlikely to disrupt circuit function over an animal's lifetime.