The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States
Model-based decision-making guides organism behavior by the representation of the relationships between different states. Previous studies have shown that the mammalian hippocampus (Hp) plays a key role in learning the structure of relationships among experiences. However, the hippocampal neural mec...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/431 |
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| author | Lifang Yang Fuli Jin Long Yang Jiajia Li Zhihui Li Mengmeng Li Zhigang Shang |
| author_facet | Lifang Yang Fuli Jin Long Yang Jiajia Li Zhihui Li Mengmeng Li Zhigang Shang |
| author_sort | Lifang Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Model-based decision-making guides organism behavior by the representation of the relationships between different states. Previous studies have shown that the mammalian hippocampus (Hp) plays a key role in learning the structure of relationships among experiences. However, the hippocampal neural mechanisms of birds for model-based learning have rarely been reported. Here, we trained six pigeons to perform a two-step task and explore whether their Hp contributes to model-based learning. Behavioral performance and hippocampal multi-channel local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded during the task. We estimated the subjective values using a reinforcement learning model dynamically fitted to the pigeon’s choice of behavior. The results show that the model-based learner can capture the behavioral choices of pigeons well throughout the learning process. Neural analysis indicated that high-frequency (12–100 Hz) power in Hp represented the temporal context states. Moreover, dynamic correlation and decoding results provided further support for the high-frequency dependence of model-based valuations. In addition, we observed a significant increase in hippocampal neural similarity at the low-frequency band (1–12 Hz) for common temporal context states after learning. Overall, our findings suggest that pigeons use model-based inferences to learn multi-step tasks, and multiple LFP frequency bands collaboratively contribute to model-based learning. Specifically, the high-frequency (12–100 Hz) oscillations represent model-based valuations, while the low-frequency (1–12 Hz) neural similarity is influenced by the relationship between temporal context states. These results contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying model-based learning and broaden the scope of hippocampal contributions to avian behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:02:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e92f48512da5426d8b9c49e00ae0c365 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:02:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e92f48512da5426d8b9c49e00ae0c3652024-02-09T15:06:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-01-0114343110.3390/ani14030431The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context StatesLifang Yang0Fuli Jin1Long Yang2Jiajia Li3Zhihui Li4Mengmeng Li5Zhigang Shang6School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Electrical and Information Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaModel-based decision-making guides organism behavior by the representation of the relationships between different states. Previous studies have shown that the mammalian hippocampus (Hp) plays a key role in learning the structure of relationships among experiences. However, the hippocampal neural mechanisms of birds for model-based learning have rarely been reported. Here, we trained six pigeons to perform a two-step task and explore whether their Hp contributes to model-based learning. Behavioral performance and hippocampal multi-channel local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded during the task. We estimated the subjective values using a reinforcement learning model dynamically fitted to the pigeon’s choice of behavior. The results show that the model-based learner can capture the behavioral choices of pigeons well throughout the learning process. Neural analysis indicated that high-frequency (12–100 Hz) power in Hp represented the temporal context states. Moreover, dynamic correlation and decoding results provided further support for the high-frequency dependence of model-based valuations. In addition, we observed a significant increase in hippocampal neural similarity at the low-frequency band (1–12 Hz) for common temporal context states after learning. Overall, our findings suggest that pigeons use model-based inferences to learn multi-step tasks, and multiple LFP frequency bands collaboratively contribute to model-based learning. Specifically, the high-frequency (12–100 Hz) oscillations represent model-based valuations, while the low-frequency (1–12 Hz) neural similarity is influenced by the relationship between temporal context states. These results contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying model-based learning and broaden the scope of hippocampal contributions to avian behavior.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/431pigeonhippocampusmodel-based valuationrepresentation of relationshipslocal field potentials |
| spellingShingle | Lifang Yang Fuli Jin Long Yang Jiajia Li Zhihui Li Mengmeng Li Zhigang Shang The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States Animals pigeon hippocampus model-based valuation representation of relationships local field potentials |
| title | The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States |
| title_full | The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States |
| title_fullStr | The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States |
| title_short | The Hippocampus in Pigeons Contributes to the Model-Based Valuation and the Relationship between Temporal Context States |
| title_sort | hippocampus in pigeons contributes to the model based valuation and the relationship between temporal context states |
| topic | pigeon hippocampus model-based valuation representation of relationships local field potentials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/431 |
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