Corticoinsular circuits encode subjective value expectation and violation for effortful goal-directed behavior

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Amanda R. Arulpragasam, Emory University; Jessica A. Cooper, Emory University; Makiah R. Nuutinen, Emory University; Michael T. Treadway, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-05-29
• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS. All rights reserved.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800444115
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• ISSN: 0027-8424
• Volume: 115
• Issue: 22
• Start Page: E5233
• End Page: E5242
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by NIH Grants R00 MH102355 and R01 MH108605 (to M.T.T.) and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant DGE-1444932 (to A.R.A.)
• Keywords: prediction error; effort-based decision making; ventromedial prefrontal cortex; anterior insula; dorsal anterior cingulate
• Research Categories: Psychology, Cognitive; Psychology, Behavioral

Abstract

We are presented with choices each day about how to invest our effort to achieve our goals. Critically, these decisions must frequently be made under conditions of incomplete information, where either the effort required or possible reward to be gained is uncertain. Such choices therefore require the development of potential value estimates to guide effortful goal-directed behavior. To date, however, the neural mechanisms for this expectation process are unknown. Here, we used computational fMRI during an effort-based decision-making task where trial-wise information about effort costs and reward magnitudes was presented separately over time, thereby allowing us to model distinct effort/ reward computations as choice-relevant information unfolded. We found that ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) encoded expected subjective value. Further, activity in dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC) and anterior insula (aI) reflected both effort discounting as well as a subjective value prediction error signal derived from trial history. While prior studies have identified these regions as being involved in effort-based decision making, these data demonstrate their specific role in the formation and maintenance of subjective value estimates as relevant information becomes available.