Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area
Abstract The integration and utilization of feedback in order to determine which decision strategy to use in different contexts is the core of executive function. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is central to these processes but how feedback is made available to the ACC is unclear. To address th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2018-08-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30203-4 |
| _version_ | 1818997844676182016 |
|---|---|
| author | Thomas W. Elston Shivam Kalhan David K. Bilkey |
| author_facet | Thomas W. Elston Shivam Kalhan David K. Bilkey |
| author_sort | Thomas W. Elston |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The integration and utilization of feedback in order to determine which decision strategy to use in different contexts is the core of executive function. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is central to these processes but how feedback is made available to the ACC is unclear. To address this question, we trained rats with implants in the ACC and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a dopaminergic brain region implicated in feedback processing, in a spatial decision reversal task with rule switching occurring approximately every 12 trials. Following a rule switch, the rats had to shift and sustain responses to the alternative side in order to obtain reward. Partial directed coherence (PDC) models of signal directionality between the ACC and VTA indicated that VTA → ACC communication (near 4 Hz) increased immediately prior to incorrect choices and during post-error decisions. This increase did not occur during correct choices. These data indicate that the VTA provides a feedback-driven, bottom-up modulating signal to the ACC which may be involved in assessing, and correcting for, decision conflict. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T21:52:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-539c5d8936fc4abbb33409d80462428c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T21:52:06Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-539c5d8936fc4abbb33409d80462428c2022-12-21T19:25:31ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222018-08-018111510.1038/s41598-018-30203-4Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental areaThomas W. Elston0Shivam Kalhan1David K. Bilkey2Department of Psychology, University of OtagoDepartment of Psychology, University of OtagoDepartment of Psychology, University of OtagoAbstract The integration and utilization of feedback in order to determine which decision strategy to use in different contexts is the core of executive function. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is central to these processes but how feedback is made available to the ACC is unclear. To address this question, we trained rats with implants in the ACC and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a dopaminergic brain region implicated in feedback processing, in a spatial decision reversal task with rule switching occurring approximately every 12 trials. Following a rule switch, the rats had to shift and sustain responses to the alternative side in order to obtain reward. Partial directed coherence (PDC) models of signal directionality between the ACC and VTA indicated that VTA → ACC communication (near 4 Hz) increased immediately prior to incorrect choices and during post-error decisions. This increase did not occur during correct choices. These data indicate that the VTA provides a feedback-driven, bottom-up modulating signal to the ACC which may be involved in assessing, and correcting for, decision conflict.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30203-4 |
| spellingShingle | Thomas W. Elston Shivam Kalhan David K. Bilkey Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area Scientific Reports |
| title | Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| title_full | Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| title_fullStr | Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| title_short | Conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| title_sort | conflict and adaptation signals in the anterior cingulate cortex and ventral tegmental area |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30203-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thomaswelston conflictandadaptationsignalsintheanteriorcingulatecortexandventraltegmentalarea AT shivamkalhan conflictandadaptationsignalsintheanteriorcingulatecortexandventraltegmentalarea AT davidkbilkey conflictandadaptationsignalsintheanteriorcingulatecortexandventraltegmentalarea |