Neuronal correlates of goal-based motor selection in the prefrontal cortex.
Abstract
Choosing an action that leads to a desired goal requires an understanding of the linkages between actions and their outcomes. We investigated neural mechanisms of such goal-based action selection. We trained monkeys on a task in which the relation between visual cues, action types, and reward conditions changed regularly, such that the monkeys selected their actions based on anticipated reward conditions. A significant number of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex were activated, after cue presentation and before motor execution, only by particular action-reward combinations. This prefrontal activity is likely to underlie goal-based action selection.
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Neural activity in the PFC is related to engagement of specific action-outcome associations.
“Electrophysiological studies using primates (Matsumoto et al., 2003; Matsumoto and Tanaka, 2004) and rats (Mulder et al., 2003) have found neural activity in the PFC related to engagement of specific action–outcome associations.”
From The Effects of Methylphenidate on Goal-directed Behavior in a Rat Model of ADHD (2015) · cites this paper as Matsumoto et al., 2003
Cortico-striatal circuits that include the PFC and striatum mediate goal-directed behavior and habitual learning.
“Cortico-striatal circuits that include the PFC and striatum mediate goal-directed behavior and habitual learning.”
From The Effects of Methylphenidate on Goal-directed Behavior in a Rat Model of ADHD (2015) · cites this paper as Matsumoto et al., 2003
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- Authors
- Matsumoto, K., Suzuki, W., & Tanaka, K.
- Affiliations
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Matsumoto, Kenji
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2003-07-11
- Volume
- 301
- Issue
- 5630
- Pages
- 229-232
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2078024799
- Cited by
- 384
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 10.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Keywords
- medial prefrontal cortex, reward anticipation, single-unit activity, action planning, monkeys, decision-making
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Haplorhini, Brain Mapping, Conditioning, Psychological, Cues, Decision Making, Goals, Learning, Memory, Neurons, Psychomotor Performance, Reward, Prefrontal Cortex
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