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Optimal decision making and the anterior cingulate cortex
Abstract
Learning the value of options in an uncertain environment is central to optimal decision making. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in using reinforcement information to control behavior. Here we demonstrate that the ACC's critical role in reinforcement-guided behavior is neither in detecting nor in correcting errors, but in guiding voluntary choices based on the history of actions and outcomes. ACC lesions did not impair the performance of monkeys (Macaca mulatta) immediately after errors, but made them unable to sustain rewarded responses in a reinforcement-guided choice task and to integrate risk and payoff in a dynamic foraging task. These data suggest that the ACC is essential for learning the value of actions.
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“The ACC is required for monitoring and prediction of an action-outcome relationship30,31, by representing various reward-related information, such as reward value and cost of action32–34.”
From Dissociable roles of prefrontal plasticity in decision-making strategy and execution of habitual behavior (2026) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“From this and related findings (Kennerley et al., 2006; Rushworth et al., 2004), it was proposed that the macaque anterior cingulate cortex helps in monitoring and reacting to particular forms of conflict”
From The cingulum bundle: Anatomy, function, and dysfunction (2018) · cites this paper as Kennerley et al., 2006
In the citing paper
“Kennerley et al. (96) found that lesions of the anterior cingulate cortex, a key part of MFa, impair the use of positive feedback to stay with correct actions after action reversals.”
From Localization of Dysfunction in Major Depressive Disorder: Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala (2011) · cites this paper as [96]
In the citing paper
“So far a few studies have estimated the time constant of this filter from behavior, and assessed how past rewards affect choice selection8-12”
From A reservoir of time constants for memory traces in cortical neurons (2011) · cites this paper as [10]
In the citing paper
“This is noteworthy, since a shift from an exploitive to an exploratory strategy as the environment becomes uncertain is often assessed by an increase in the learning rate10.”
From A reservoir of time constants for memory traces in cortical neurons (2011) · cites this paper as [10]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kennerley, S. W., Walton, M. E., Behrens, T. E. J., Buckley, M. J., & Rushworth, M. F. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Kennerley, Steven W
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2006-06-18
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 940-947
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W2009639618
- Cited by
- 948
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 58 · 2012: 55
- FWCI
- 26.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Keywords
- anterior cingulate cortex, optimal decision making, reinforcement learning, value learning, error correction, error detection, voluntary choice, foraging behavior, lesion studies, macaque
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Behavior, Animal, Conditioning, Operant, Decision Making, Gyrus Cinguli, Macaca mulatta, Male, Probability Learning, Psychomotor Performance, Reinforcement, Psychology, Reinforcement Schedule
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