Giving credit where credit is due: orbitofrontal cortex and valuation in an uncertain world

Mark E Walton; Timothy E J Behrens; MaryAnn P Noonan; Matthew F S Rushworth

doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06257.x

Giving credit where credit is due: orbitofrontal cortex and valuation in an uncertain world

Mark E Walton, Timothy E J Behrens, MaryAnn P Noonan, Matthew F S Rushworth

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has long been implicated in aspects of learning and adaptive decision making in changeable environments, but its precise role has remained elusive. One potential reason is that anatomical and functional distinctions within the OFC have often been overlooked. Here, we review findings centered largely on recent lesion studies in macaque monkeys from our laboratories that have investigated the causal role of the lateral and medial parts of the OFC (LOFC and MOFC) in choice behavior in uncertain, multioption environments. MOFC appears necessary for focusing attention on only the relevant decision variables to achieve a goal. By contrast, LOFC is required to allow rapid learning in changeable environments by enabling the credit for a particular outcome to be assigned to a specific choice.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	14-24
Number of pages	11
Journal	The Neurosciences and Music III---Disorders and Plasticity: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.
Volume	1239
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06257.x
Publication status	Published - Dec 2011

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Animals
Behavior, Animal
Brain Mapping/veterinary
Choice Behavior
Decision Making
Frontal Lobe/anatomy & histology
Humans
Macaca/physiology
Models, Psychological
Neurons/physiology
Physiology, Comparative/methods
Reversal Learning

Access to Document

10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06257.x

Cite this

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title = "Giving credit where credit is due: orbitofrontal cortex and valuation in an uncertain world",

abstract = "The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has long been implicated in aspects of learning and adaptive decision making in changeable environments, but its precise role has remained elusive. One potential reason is that anatomical and functional distinctions within the OFC have often been overlooked. Here, we review findings centered largely on recent lesion studies in macaque monkeys from our laboratories that have investigated the causal role of the lateral and medial parts of the OFC (LOFC and MOFC) in choice behavior in uncertain, multioption environments. MOFC appears necessary for focusing attention on only the relevant decision variables to achieve a goal. By contrast, LOFC is required to allow rapid learning in changeable environments by enabling the credit for a particular outcome to be assigned to a specific choice.",

keywords = "Animals, Behavior, Animal, Brain Mapping/veterinary, Choice Behavior, Decision Making, Frontal Lobe/anatomy & histology, Humans, Macaca/physiology, Models, Psychological, Neurons/physiology, Physiology, Comparative/methods, Reversal Learning",

author = "Walton, {Mark E} and Behrens, {Timothy E J} and Noonan, {MaryAnn P} and Rushworth, {Matthew F S}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2011 New York Academy of Sciences.",

year = "2011",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06257.x",

language = "English",

volume = "1239",

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journal = "The Neurosciences and Music III---Disorders and Plasticity: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.",

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T2 - orbitofrontal cortex and valuation in an uncertain world

AU - Walton, Mark E

AU - Behrens, Timothy E J

AU - Noonan, MaryAnn P

AU - Rushworth, Matthew F S

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has long been implicated in aspects of learning and adaptive decision making in changeable environments, but its precise role has remained elusive. One potential reason is that anatomical and functional distinctions within the OFC have often been overlooked. Here, we review findings centered largely on recent lesion studies in macaque monkeys from our laboratories that have investigated the causal role of the lateral and medial parts of the OFC (LOFC and MOFC) in choice behavior in uncertain, multioption environments. MOFC appears necessary for focusing attention on only the relevant decision variables to achieve a goal. By contrast, LOFC is required to allow rapid learning in changeable environments by enabling the credit for a particular outcome to be assigned to a specific choice.

AB - The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has long been implicated in aspects of learning and adaptive decision making in changeable environments, but its precise role has remained elusive. One potential reason is that anatomical and functional distinctions within the OFC have often been overlooked. Here, we review findings centered largely on recent lesion studies in macaque monkeys from our laboratories that have investigated the causal role of the lateral and medial parts of the OFC (LOFC and MOFC) in choice behavior in uncertain, multioption environments. MOFC appears necessary for focusing attention on only the relevant decision variables to achieve a goal. By contrast, LOFC is required to allow rapid learning in changeable environments by enabling the credit for a particular outcome to be assigned to a specific choice.

KW - Animals

KW - Behavior, Animal

KW - Brain Mapping/veterinary

KW - Choice Behavior

KW - Decision Making

KW - Frontal Lobe/anatomy & histology

KW - Humans

KW - Macaca/physiology

KW - Models, Psychological

KW - Neurons/physiology

KW - Physiology, Comparative/methods

KW - Reversal Learning

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DO - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06257.x

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JO - The Neurosciences and Music III---Disorders and Plasticity: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.

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