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Medial prefrontal cortex as an action-outcome predictor

Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 1338–1344 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and especially anterior cingulate cortex is central to higher cognitive function and many clinical disorders, yet its basic function remains in dispute. Various competing theories of mPFC have treated effects of errors, conflict, error likelihood, volatility and reward, using findings from neuroimaging and neurophysiology in humans and monkeys. No single theory has been able to reconcile and account for the variety of findings. Here we show that a simple model based on standard learning rules can simulate and unify an unprecedented range of known effects in mPFC. The model reinterprets many known effects and suggests a new view of mPFC, as a region concerned with learning and predicting the likely outcomes of actions, whether good or bad. Cognitive control at the neural level is then seen as a result of evaluating the probable and actual outcomes of one's actions.

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Figure 1: The PRO model.
Figure 2: ERP simulations.
Figure 3: Single-unit neurophysiology simulation.
Figure 4: fMRI simulations.

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Acknowledgements

We thank L. Pessoa, S. Padmala, T. Braver, V. Stuphorn, A. Krawitz, D. Nee and the J. Schall laboratory for critical feedback. Supported in part by Air Force Office of Scientific Research FA9550-07-1-0454 (J.W.B.), R03 DA023462 (J.W.B.), R01 DA026457 (J.W.B.), a NARSAD Young Investigator Award (J.W.B.) and the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation (J.W.B.). Supported by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) through Department of the Interior (DOI) contract D10PC20023. The US Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright annotation thereon. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of IARPA, DOI or the US Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    William H Alexander & Joshua W Brown

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  1. William H Alexander
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J.W.B. and W.H.A. conceptualized the model. W.H.A. implemented the model and ran the simulations. J.W.B. and W.H.A. wrote the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Joshua W Brown.

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Alexander, W., Brown, J. Medial prefrontal cortex as an action-outcome predictor. Nat Neurosci 14, 1338–1344 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2921

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