Authors:

KADOHISA, M., KUSUNOKI, M., MITCHELL, D.J., Bhatia, C., Buckley, M.J., DUNCAN, J.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2023

CBU number:

8858

Abstract:

Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and temporal cortex (TE) all contribute to visual decision making. Accumulating evidence suggests that vlPFC may play a central role in multiple cognitive operations, perhaps resembling domain-general regions of the human frontal lobe. We trained monkeys in a task calling for learning, retrieval and spatial selection of rewarded target objects. Recordings of neural activity covered large areas of vlPFC, dlPFC, and TE. Results suggested a central role for vlPFC in each cognitive operation, with strong coding of each task feature, while only location was strongly coded in dlPFC, and current object identity in TE. During target selection, target location was communicated first from vlPFC to dlPFC, followed by extensive mutual support. In vlPFC, stimulus identities were independently coded in different task operations. The results suggest a central role for the inferior frontal convexity in controlling successive operations of a complex, multi-step task.

URL:

Data available, click to request