Single neuron activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of monkey during operant behavior sustained by food reward

The activity of 190 neurons was recorded from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of monkeys during an operant task that consisted of 3 phases: visual discrimination of food and non-food, bar pressing to gain access to the food and ingestion. In area 8, a fairly large proportion of the 49 recorded neurons responded in both the visual discrimination (37%) and motor initiation (35%) phases. Some functional heterogeneity seems evident within area 8 since visual discrimination responses were rostral, visuokinesis was central and motor initiation was in the caudal bank of the arcuate sulcus. Neurons in area 9 responded primarily (37%) during the bar pressing phase and less during the visual discrimination phase. Neurons in area 10 responded variously during most phases of the task--food discrimination, bar pressing, and ingestion. Neurons in the periprincipal sulcal area usually responded in the visual discrimination phase, but some which did not respond to food presented in front of the subject responded to meaningful visual or auditory cues that were related to food reward. The data suggest that neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex have multiple functions related to all phases of complex, learned feeding behavior. Functional roles of the prefrontal cortex and the lateral hypothalamus in development of feeding behavior are discussed.