Abstract
Exploration permits acquisition of the most relevant information during learning. However, the specific information needed, the influences of this information on decision making, and the relevant neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. We modeled distinct information types available during contextual association learning and used model-based fMRI in conjunction with manipulation of exploratory decision making to identify neural activity associated with information-based decisions. We identified hippocampal-prefrontal contributions to advantageous decisions based on immediately available novel information, distinct from striatal contributions to advantageous decisions based on the sum total available (accumulated) information. Furthermore, network-level interactions among these regions during exploratory decision making were related to learning success. These findings link strategic exploration decisions during learning to quantifiable information and advance understanding of adaptive behavior by identifying the distinct and interactive nature of brain-network contributions to decisions based on distinct information types.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1171-1182 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Neuron |
| Volume | 82 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 4 2014 |
Funding
We thank Neal Cohen, Patrick Watson, Hillary Schwarb, and Kelly Brandstatt for helpful comments. Research was supported by award number P50-MH094263 from the National Institute of Mental Health and R00-NS069788 and F32-NS083340 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Neuroimaging was performed at the Center for Translational Imaging supported by the Northwestern University Department of Radiology.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience