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Environmental complexity modulates information processing and the balance between decision-making systems.

Ugurcan Mugan1, Samantha L Hoffman2, A David Redish1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Rodent decision-making adapts to complex environments using competing neural systems. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) balances hippocampus (HC) and striatum (DLS) activity for adaptive foraging behavior.

Keywords:
behaviordecision makingdorsolateral striatumenvironmental complexityhabithippocampusmedial prefrontal cortexnaturalistic environmentsplace cellplanningtask bracketing

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Naturalistic behavior involves complex environments and competing neural systems.
  • Previous rodent decision-making studies often used simplified environments.
  • Understanding neural circuit dynamics in complex settings is crucial for adaptive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate neural ensemble activity in the hippocampus (HC), dorsolateral striatum (DLS), and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) during foraging in complex environments.
  • To elucidate the role of these brain regions in decision-making under varying environmental complexity and rules.
  • To explore the competition between neural decision systems and the regulatory function of the dmPFC.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded neural ensembles from HC, DLS, and dmPFC in rats foraging under changing rules and varying environmental complexity.
  • Analyzed behavioral variability, HC nonlocal sequences, and action caching.
  • Utilized inactivation of the dmPFC to assess its causal role in behavioral adaptation and decision system balance.

Main Results:

  • Environmental complexity increased behavioral variability, lengthened HC nonlocal sequences, and modulated action caching.
  • Contrasting neural representations were observed between DLS and HC, suggesting system competition.
  • dmPFC activity predicted the balance between HC and DLS engagement, and its inactivation impaired adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • Decision-making systems exhibit dynamic engagement modulated by environmental complexity.
  • The dmPFC plays a critical role in balancing competing neural systems for adaptive behavior.
  • Findings provide insights into naturalistic decision-making and its neural underpinnings.