Research article summary (published 28 Jul 2009):

Learning substrates in the primate prefrontal cortex and striatum: sustained activity related to successful actions.

Full Abstract

Learning from experience requires knowing whether a past action resulted in a desired outcome. The prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia are thought to play key roles in such learning of arbitrary stimulus-response associations. Previous studies have found neural activity in these areas, similar to dopaminergic neurons' signals, that transiently reflect whether a response is correct or incorrect. However, it is unclear how this transient activity, which fades in under a second, influences actions that occur much later. Here, we report that single neurons in both areas show sustained, persistent outcome-related responses. Moreover, single behavioral outcomes influence future neural activity and behavior: behavioral responses are more often correct and single neurons more accurately discriminate between the possible responses when the previous response was correct. These long-lasting signals about trial outcome provide a way to link one action to the next and may allow reward signals to be combined over time to implement successful learning.

Author information

Author/s: Histed, Mark H (MH); Pasupathy, Anitha (A); Miller, Earl K (EK);

Affiliation: The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. mark_histed(-atsign-)hms.harvard.edu

Journal and publication information

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

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

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 63 (issue 2) : pp 244-53

Dates: Created 2009/07/30; Completed 2009/09/30;

PMID: 19640482, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/30/2009, IMS Date: )

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

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Neuron. 2009 Jul 30;63(2):146-8. (PMID: 19640473)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Analysis of Variance Animals Choice Behavior - physiology Cues Discrimination Learning - physiology Neostriatum - physiology

Neostriatum - physiology Neurons - physiology Prefrontal Cortex - physiology Primates Psychomotor Performance - physiology Reaction Time - physiology

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