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Triple dissociation of attention and decision computations across prefrontal cortex
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Abstract
Naturalistic decision-making typically involves sequential deployment of attention to choice alternatives to gather information before a decision is made. Attention filters how information enters decision circuits, thus implying that attentional control may shape how decision computations unfold. We recorded neuronal activity from three subregions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) while monkeys performed an attention-guided decision-making task. From the first saccade to decision-relevant information, a triple dissociation of decision- and attention-related computations emerged in parallel across PFC subregions. During subsequent saccades, orbitofrontal cortex activity reflected the value comparison between currently and previously attended information. In contrast, the anterior cingulate cortex carried several signals reflecting belief updating in light of newly attended information, the integration of evidence to a decision bound and an emerging plan for what action to choose. Our findings show how anatomically dissociable PFC representations evolve during attention-guided information search, supporting computations critical for value-guided choice.
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“Activity in ACC has also been linked to information seeking and initiation of behavioral change14,17,22,62–66”
From Interpretable abstractions of artificial neural networks predict behavior and neural activity during human information gathering (2026) · cites this paper as [64]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hunt, L. T., Malalasekera, W. M. N., de Berker, A. O., Miranda, B., Farmer, S. F., Behrens, T. E. J., & Kennerley, S. W.
- Affiliations
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Champalimaud Foundation (PT)
- Corresponding author
- Hunt, Laurence T.
- Kennerley, Steven W.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2018-09-26
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1471-1481
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- PMC
- PMC6331040
- OpenAlex
- W2742165752
- Cited by
- 222
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 3
- FWCI
- 14.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
- James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF220020372)
- National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
- Wellcome Trust (104765/Z/14/Z, 208789/Z/17/Z, 096689/Z/11/Z, 098830/Z/12/Z, WT104765MA)
- Astor Foundation
- Rosetrees Trust
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Keywords
- prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, value comparison, belief updating, evidence integration, decision boundaries, action planning, naturalistic decision making, neuronal activity, saccades
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Attention, Brain Mapping, Cues, Decision Making, Macaca mulatta, Male, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Reinforcement, Psychology, Saccades, Prefrontal Cortex, Patch-Clamp Techniques
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