RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Rhythmic Activity in the Medial Frontal Cortex Encodes Relative Reward Value
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 144550
DO 10.1101/144550
A1 Linda M. Amarante
A1 Marcelo A. Caetano
A1 Mark Laubach
YR 2017
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/05/31/144550.abstract
AB How do we know the reward value of a given food or fluid? The item must first be consumed and only then can its relative value be computed. Rodents consume fluids by emitting rhythmic trains of licks and reward value is likely encoded by neuronal activity entrained to the lick cycle. Here, we investigated the relationship between licking and reward signaling by the medial frontal cortex (MFC), a key cortical region for reward-guided learning and decision-making. Rats were tested in an incentive contrast procedure, in which they received alternating access to higher and lower value sucrose rewards. Neuronal activity in the MFC encoded the relative value of the ingested fluids, showing stronger entrainment to the lick cycle when animals ingested higher value rewards. The signals developed with experience, encoded the reward context, and depended on neuronal processing within the MFC. These findings suggest that consummatory behavior drives reward signaling in the MFC.