Prefrontal Cortical Contribution to Risk-Based Decision Making

摘要: Damage to various regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) impairs decision making involving evaluations about risks and rewards. However, specific contributions that different PFC subregions make risk-based are unclear. We investigated effects reversible inactivation 4 rat (prelimbic medial PFC, orbitofrontal [OFC], anterior cingulate, insular cortex) on probabilistic (or risk) discounting. Rats were well trained choose between either a "Small/Certain" lever always delivered 1 food pellet, or another, "Large/Risky" lever, which pellets, but probability receiving reward decreased across trial blocks (100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%). Infusions gama-aminobutyric acid agonists muscimol/baclofen into increased risky choice. similar inactivations choice when Large/Risky over session. OFC response latencies in latter without affecting Anterior cingulate effect. The prelimbic not attributable disruptions flexibility judgments relative value Thus, prelimbic, other regions, plays critical role risk discounting, integrating information changing probabilities update representations facilitate efficient making.