Representation of spatial goals in rat orbitofrontal cortex.

Full Abstract

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to participate in making and evaluating goal-directed decisions. In rodents, spatial navigation is a major mode of goal-directed behavior, and anatomical and lesion studies implicate the OFC in spatial processing, but there is little direct evidence for coding of spatial or motor variables. Here, we recorded from ventrolateral and lateral OFC in an odor-cued two-alternative choice task requiring orientation and approach to spatial goal ports. In this context, over half of OFC neurons encoded choice direction or goal port location. A subset of neurons was jointly selective for the trial outcome and port location, information useful for the selection or evaluation of spatial goals. These observations show that the rodent OFC not only encodes information relating to general motivational significance, as shown previously, but also encodes spatiomotor variables needed to define specific behavioral goals and the locomotor actions required to attain them.

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Author information

Author/s: Feierstein, Claudia E (CE); Quirk, Michael C (MC); Uchida, Naoshige (N); Sosulski, Dara L (DL); Mainen, Zachary F (ZF);

Affiliation: Watson School of Biological Sciences, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.

Grants: 5R01DC006104-02 (Agency:NIDCD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 51 (issue 4) : pp 495-507

Dates: Created 2006/08/15; Completed 2006/09/26; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16908414, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Neuron. 2006 Aug 17;51(4):395-7. (PMID: 16908405)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Action Potentials - physiology
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Brain Mapping
Choice Behavior - physiology
Cues
Discrimination Learning - physiology
Frontal Lobe - cytology; physiology
Goals

Movement - physiology
Neurons - classification; physiology
Orientation - physiology
ROC Curve
Rats
Reaction Time
Reward
Space Perception - physiology
Time Factors

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