Category-dependent and category-independent goal-value codes in human ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Citation:
McNamee,Daniel D., Rangel,Antonio A., O'Doherty,John P. J.P., Category-dependent and category-independent goal-value codes in human ventromedial prefrontal cortex, Nature Neuroscience, 16, 4, 2013, 479-485Download Item:
Abstract:
To choose between manifestly distinct options, it is suggested that the brain assigns values to
goals using a common currency. Although previous studies have reported activity in ventromedial
prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) correlating with the value of different goal stimuli, it remains unclear
whether such goal-value representations are independent of the associated stimulus categorization,
as required by a common currency. Using multivoxel pattern analyses on functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) data, we found a region of medial prefrontal cortex to contain a
distributed goal-value code that is independent of stimulus category. More ventrally in the
vmPFC, we found spatially distinct areas of the medial orbitofrontal cortex to contain unique
category-dependent distributed value codes for food and consumer items. These results implicate
the medial prefrontal cortex in the implementation of a common currency and suggest a ventral
versus dorsal topographical organization of value signals in the vmPFC
Sponsor
Grant Number
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
08/IN.1/B1844
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/odoherjpDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: O'DOHERTY, JOHN
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
Series/Report no:
Nature Neuroscience16
4
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Full text availableKeywords:
vmPFCDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.3337ISSN:
10976256Metadata
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