Selective Attention and Reward Value in the Prefrontal Control of Choice

描述（由申请人提供）：奖励价值整合和选择性注意力是相互作用以告知决策的深度交叉过程。然而，由于对这两个过程的研究之间的历史分歧，这些过程的神经生物学机制尚不清楚。这是一个重大的遗漏，因为决策缺陷往往伴随着人类注意力的缺陷，这表明这两个过程共同的神经机制存在一些干扰。在这里，我们提出了一系列的实验，将阐明这些机制。我们引入了一种行为范式，可以同时测量选择过程中的注意力和价值。我们将确定价值和注意力如何影响前额叶区域的单神经元活动，该区域与注意力和决策有关：前额叶眼区（FEF）。在FEF内，不同的、特征良好的神经元类别一起工作以选择视觉目标。这些类别的神经元反映了选择形成的不同阶段：它们包括视觉（输入）细胞，运动（输出）细胞和视觉细胞，它们反映了中间计算。这些细胞分布在皮层各层，皮层和皮层下有已知的连接：不同的皮层本身反映了输入、输出和中间的局部连接。目前还不清楚价值和注意力在这些不同的神经类别、层次及其相关的处理阶段中扮演什么角色。因此，我们将首先使用来自识别的皮层的高产量多电极记录来确定哪些神经类信号值和注意力。接下来， 我们将评估和操纵FEF价值信息的潜在来源。首先，我们将研究一个与FEF有很强解剖学联系的前额叶执行控制和行动价值区域：背侧前扣带皮层（dACC）。使用同时多电极记录在这两个领域，我们将研究在这两个地区的价值信号之间的时间关系。我们还将通过逐个试验的信号和噪声相关性来描述区域之间的功能连接。然后，我们将确定是否dACC发送价值信息的FEF通过灭活dACC和观察其对选择形成的FEF。最后，我们将探讨多巴胺（DA）如何影响FEF中的价值信号。我们将通过局部递送选择性激动剂和拮抗剂来操纵多巴胺（DA），同时我们从FEF中的单个神经元记录。我们将观察其对神经活动以及对注意力和价值的独立行为测量的影响。拟议的实验将阐明前额叶皮层如何将注意力引导到选择选项上，权衡潜在结果的价值，然后将这些正在进行的和重叠的过程整合到一个选择中。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Reward value integration and selective attention are deeply intersecting processes that interact to inform decisions. However, because of the historical divide between studies on the two processes, the neurobiological mechanisms through which these processes are unclear. This is a significant omission because deficits in decision-making are often accompanied by deficits in attention in humans, suggesting some disturbance in the neural mechanisms common to both processes. Here, we propose a series of experiments that will elucidate those mechanisms. We introduce a behavioral paradigm that can simultaneously measure attention and value during choice. We will determine how value and attention contribute to single-neuron activity in a prefrontal region that has been implicated in attention and decision-making: the frontal eye fields (FEF). Within the FEF, distinct, well-characterized classes of neurons work together to choose visual targets. These classes of neurons reflect different stages in choice formation: they include visual (input) cells, motor (output) cells, and visuomotor cells, which reflect intermediary computations. These cells are distributed across cortical layers, which have known cortical and subcortical connectivity: the various cortical layers themselves reflect input, output, and intermediate, local connections. It i unclear what role value and attention play in these distinct neural classes, layers, and their associated processing stages. Therefore, we will first use high- yield multi-electrode recordings from identified cortical layers to determine which neural classes signal value and attention. Next, we will evaluate and manipulate potential sources of value information for the FEF. First, we will look at a prefrontal executive control and action-value region with strong anatomical connections to the FEF: the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Using simultaneous multi-electrode recordings in both areas, we will examine the temporal relationship between value signals in the two regions. We will also describe the functional connectivity between the regions through examining trial-by-trial signal and noise correlations. We will then determine whether dACC sends value information to the FEF through inactivating dACC and observing its effects on choice formation in the FEF. Finally, we will ask how dopamine (DA) affects value signals in the FEF. We will manipulate dopamine (DA) through local delivery of selective agonists and antagonists while we record from single neurons in the FEF. We will observe the resulting effects on neural activity and on the independent behavioral measures of attention and value. The proposed experiments will elucidate how the prefrontal cortex directs attention towards choice options, weighs the value of potential outcomes, and then integrates those ongoing and overlapping processes into a choice.