Multivariate Neural Representations of Value during Reward Anticipation and Consummation in the Human Orbitofrontal Cortex.

Chao Yan,Li Su,Eric F C Cheung,Raymond C K Chan,Yi Wang,Ting Xu,Da-Zhi Yin,Ci-Ping Deng,Kelvin O Lim,Zhao-Xin Wang,Ming-Xia Fan,Yang Hu

doi:10.1038/srep29079

Abstract

The role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in value processing is a focus of research. Conventional imaging analysis, where smoothing and averaging are employed, may not be sufficiently sensitive in studying the OFC, which has heterogeneous anatomical structures and functions. In this study, we employed representational similarity analysis (RSA) to reveal the multi-voxel fMRI patterns in the OFC associated with value processing during the anticipatory and the consummatory phases. We found that multi-voxel activation patterns in the OFC encoded magnitude and partial valence information (win vs. loss) but not outcome (favourable vs. unfavourable) during reward consummation. Furthermore, the lateral OFC rather than the medial OFC encoded loss information. Also, we found that OFC encoded values in a similar way to the ventral striatum (VS) or the anterior insula (AI) during reward anticipation regardless of motivated response and to the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and the VS in reward consummation. In contrast, univariate analysis did not show changes of activation in the OFC. These findings suggest an important role of the OFC in value processing during reward anticipation and consummation.

Highlights

The role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in value processing is a focus of research
Tusche et al.[25] reported that multivariate pattern in the ventral prefrontal cortex represented attractiveness of consumer products, which could predict consumers’ future choices of purchasing. Another studies suggested that valence rather than magnitude is represented in the central OFC during reward anticipation[24]
We explored whether or not the fMRI patterns in the OFC were similar to the activation patterns in those regions that were traditionally associated with reward anticipation and consummation

Summary

Introduction

The role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in value processing is a focus of research. In conventional neuroimaging analysis, which mainly focuses on mapping the extent of the regional averaged changes in blood-oxygen-dependent level (BOLD) signal[19], considerable smoothing and averaging are employed during pre-processing and statistical testing This may reduce the sensitivity for detecting subtle changes in anatomically/functionally heterogeneous areas (i.e. OFC) during reward processing[20,21,22]. Tusche et al.[25] reported that multivariate pattern in the ventral prefrontal cortex represented attractiveness of consumer products (cars), which could predict consumers’ future choices of purchasing Another studies suggested that valence rather than magnitude is represented in the central OFC (located between medial and lateral OFC, BA 11 and 13 26) during reward anticipation[24]. We aimed to further examine whether the mOFC and the lOFC encode valence and magnitude information in the anticipatory and consummatory phases of reward processing

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion