Cited by 108Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural dynamics and brain function

Encoding of reward and space during a working memory task in the orbitofrontal cortex and anterior cingulate sulcus

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Kennerley, Steven W., Wallis, Jonathan D.·2009·Journal of Neurophysiology

Abstract

Several lines of research indicate that emotional and motivational information may be useful in guiding the allocation of attentional resources. Two areas of the frontal lobe that are particularly implicated in the encoding of motivational information are the orbital prefrontal cortex (PFo) and the dorsomedial region of prefrontal cortex, specifically the anterior cingulate sulcus (PFcs). However, it remains unclear whether these areas use this information to influence spatial attention. We used single-unit neurophysiology to examine whether, at the level of individual neurons, there was evidence for integration between reward information and spatial attention. We trained two subjects to perform a task that required them to attend to a spatial location across a delay 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. We found little evidence for encoding of the spatial location in either PFo or PFcs. In contrast, both areas encoded the expected reward. Furthermore, PFo consistently encoded reward more quickly than PFcs, although reward encoding was subsequently more prevalent and stronger in PFcs. These results suggest a differential contribution of PFo and PFcs to reward encoding, with PFo potentially more important for initially determining the value of rewards predicted by sensory stimuli. They also suggest that neither PFo nor PFcs play a direct role in the control of spatial attention.

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Crossref · 10.1152/jn.00273.2009

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  • Recent studies in nonhuman primates identified the orbitofrontal cortex as a region that processes reward but not working memory-related information.

    “Recent studies in nonhuman primates 1) identified the orbitofrontal cortex as a region that processes reward but not working memory-related information [70]”

    From Linking ADHD to the Neural Circuitry of Attention (2017) · cites this paper as [70]

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Authors
Kennerley, S. W., & Wallis, J. D.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Department of Psychology and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California
Venue
Journal of Neurophysiology
Published
2009-12
Volume
102
Issue
6
Pages
3352-3364
ISSN
  • 0022-3077 (ISSN-L)
  • 1522-1598
OpenAlex
W1976273411
Cited by
108
References
102
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 8
FWCI
4.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5f32mh081521-02)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (F32MH-081521)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA19028, R01DA019028)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (P01NS040813)
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 › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
reward encoding, spatial attention, orbitofrontal cortex, working memory, single-unit recording, reward expectancy, prefrontal cortex, attentional control
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Animals, Attention, Brain Mapping, Gyrus Cinguli, Macaca mulatta, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neurons, Neuropsychological Tests, Regression Analysis, Reward, Space Perception, Time Factors, Prefrontal Cortex

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