Reward-dependent modulation of working memory in lateral prefrontal cortex.
Reward-dependent modulation of working memory in lateral prefrontal cortex.
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DOI：
10.1523/jneurosci.5353-08.2009
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发表时间：
2009-03-11
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Wallis JD
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文献类型：
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作者：
Kennerley SW;Wallis JD
虽然研究表明执行控制和目标导向行为与外侧前额叶皮层（PFC）有关，但目标如何影响执行过程仍不清楚。一种可能性是，目标相关的信息，如预期的奖励，可以调节有关执行控制的信息的表示，从而确保认知资源的有效分配。为了研究这一点，我们研究了奖励如何调节空间工作记忆。以往对空间工作记忆的研究主要集中在背外侧前额叶皮层，但该区域与奖赏加工区的联系较弱。腹外侧PFC在这方面有更好的连接。因此，我们对比了单个神经元的功能特性，在腹外侧和背外侧PFC作为两个主题进行了一项任务，要求他们在工作记忆中的空间信息，根据不同的期望奖励正确的性能。我们平衡了空间信息和奖赏信息的呈现顺序，这样我们就可以独立地和联合地评估这两种信息的神经元编码。在腹外侧PFC的神经元编码空间和奖励信息更早，更强，更持久的方式比背外侧PFC的神经元。在腹外侧PFC，空间选择性是更普遍的下凸比主沟内。最后，当奖励增加空间选择性时，行为绩效提高，而当奖励降低空间选择性时，行为绩效恶化。这些结果表明，腹外侧PFC可能是一个位点，预期奖励的信息可以调节工作记忆中的信息。结果的模式是一致的腹外侧PFC在注意力控制中的作用。
Although research implicates lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) in executive control and goal-directed behavior, it remains unclear how goals influence executive processes. One possibility is that goal-relevant information, such as expected rewards, could modulate the representation of information relating to executive control, thereby ensuring the efficient allocation of cognitive resources. To investigate this, we examined how reward modulated spatial working memory. Past studies investigating spatial working memory have focused on dorsolateral PFC, but this area only weakly connects with areas processing reward. Ventrolateral PFC has better connections in this regard. Thus, we contrasted the functional properties of single neurons in ventrolateral and dorsolateral PFC as two subjects performed a task that required them to hold spatial information in working memory under different expectancies of reward for correct performance. We balanced the order of presentation of spatial and reward information so we could assess the neuronal encoding of the two pieces of information independently and conjointly. Neurons in ventrolateral PFC encoded both spatial and reward information earlier, stronger and in a more sustained manner than neurons in dorsolateral PFC. Within ventrolateral PFC, spatial selectivity was more prevalent on the inferior convexity than within the principal sulcus. Finally, when reward increased spatial selectivity, behavioral performance improved, whereas when reward decreased spatial selectivity, behavioral performance deteriorated. These results suggest that ventrolateral PFC may be a locus whereby information about expected rewards can modulate information in working memory. The pattern of results is consistent with a role for ventrolateral PFC in attentional control.