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Poster C140 in Poster Session C - Friday, August 9, 2024, 11:15 am – 1:15 pm, Johnson Ice Rink
Neuronal activity in the orbitofrontal cortex of monkeys choosing between three options varying on three dimensions
Miguel Barretto-García1 (), Jiaxin (Cindy) Tu1, Camillo Padoa-Schioppa1; 1Washington University in St. Louis
Numerous human and animal studies have shown that neurons in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) encode economic decision variables including the value of individual offers, the chosen good, and the chosen value. However, most previous studies examined binary choices between options that varied on two dimensions. Thus, it remains unclear whether and how the neuronal population in OFC can accommodate more complex choices including choices between multiple options. Here we examined trinary choices between offers that varied on three dimensions (juice flavor, quantity, probability). We recorded from the OFC of two monkeys and we analyzed the spiking activity of N = 1,466 cells. We found that different groups of cells encoded the value of individual offers, the chosen juice and the chosen value. Importantly, the activity of offer value cells integrated the juice quantity and the animal's risk attitude, and thus reflected the subjective nature of value. Previous studies had not addressed this issue. In summary, our results confirm and generalize previous findings. They thus advance our understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of value computation and value comparison underlying economic choices.
Keywords: economic choice orbitofrontal cortex subjective value neurophysiology