Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is required for performance of a strategy implementation task but not reinforcer devaluation effects in rhesus monkeys

Mark G. Baxter, David Gaffan, Diana A. Kyriazis, Anna S. Mitchell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability to apply behavioral strategies to obtain rewards efficiently and make choices based on changes in the value of rewards is fundamental to the adaptive control of behavior. The extent to which different regions of the prefrontal cortex are required for specific kinds of decisions is not well understood. We tested rhesus monkeys with bilateral ablations of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex on tasks that required the use of behavioral strategies to optimize the rate with which rewards were accumulated, or to modify choice behavior in response to changes in the value of particular rewards. Monkeys with ventrolateral prefrontal lesions were impaired in performing the strategy-based task, but not on value-based decision-making. In contrast, orbital prefrontal ablations produced the opposite impairments in the same tasks. These findings support the conclusion that independent neural systems within the prefrontal cortex are necessary for control of choice behavior based on strategies or on stimulus value.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2049-2059
Number of pages11
JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience
Volume29
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Macaque
  • Monkey
  • Prefrontal cortex
  • Reinforcement
  • Reward
  • Rules

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is required for performance of a strategy implementation task but not reinforcer devaluation effects in rhesus monkeys'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this