Opposing, multiplexed information in lateral and ventral orbitofrontal cortex guides sequential foraging decisions in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Decision-Making
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is crucial for value-based decision-making.
• Distinct subregions of the OFC, particularly medial and lateral aspects, have known differing roles.
• However, the specific information processing differences between nearby lateral orbital (LO) and ventral orbital (VO) subregions remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distinct information-processing characteristics of the lateral orbital (LO) and ventral orbital (VO) subregions of the OFC.
• To clarify the functional heterogeneity between LO and VO in sequential cost-benefit foraging decisions.
• To understand how these subregions contribute to navigating trade-offs in foraging.

Main Methods:

• High-density neural recordings were performed in rat LO and VO subregions.
• A neuroeconomic task was employed to study cost-benefit foraging.
• Neural activity was analyzed in relation to reward encounter stages and decision-making.

Main Results:

• LO and VO exhibited opposing representations of subjective reward benefit and opportunity costs, respectively.
• The balance between these representations correlated with decisions to approach or leave rewards.
• Distinct cell ensembles within LO and VO encoded these opposing representations across task states.
• Subregion activity scaled with changes in subjective reward value influenced by external (scarcity) and internal (hunger) factors.

Conclusions:

• Lateral and ventral OFC encode opposing representations to guide sequential foraging decisions.
• A shared coding scheme within the OFC multiplexes information on subjective value and world states.
• This highlights functional heterogeneity within the OFC for complex decision-making.