A cognitive map for value-guided choice in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

作者：Sebastijan Veselič, Timothy Müller, Elena M. Gutierrez-Farewik, Timothy E.J. Behrens, Laurence T. Hunt, James L. Butler, Steven W. Kennerley · 发表于：Cell · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.038 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Cognitive Science and Mapping、Memory and Neural Mechanisms、Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for economic decision-making. However, how PFC value representations facilitate flexible decisions remains unknown. We reframe economic decision-making as a navigation process through a cognitive map of choice values. We found rhesus macaques represented choices as navigation trajectories in a value space using a grid-like code. This occurred in ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) local field potential theta frequency across two datasets. vmPFC neurons deployed the same grid-like code and encoded chosen value. However, both signals depended on theta phase: occurring on theta troughs but on separate theta cycles. Finally, we found sharp-wave ripples-a key signature of planning and flexible behavior-in vmPFC. Thus, vmPFC utilizes cognitive map-based computations to organize and compare values, suggesting an alternative architecture for economic choice in PFC.