Dissociable roles of cortical excitation-inhibition balance during patch-leaving versus value-guided decisions

Luca F. Kaiser (), Theo O. J. Gruendler, Oliver Speck, Lennart Luettgau and Gerhard Jocham
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Luca F. Kaiser: Heinrich Heine University
Theo O. J. Gruendler: Otto von Guericke University
Oliver Speck: Otto von Guericke University
Lennart Luettgau: Heinrich Heine University
Gerhard Jocham: Heinrich Heine University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract In a dynamic world, it is essential to decide when to leave an exploited resource. Such patch-leaving decisions involve balancing the cost of moving against the gain expected from the alternative patch. This contrasts with value-guided decisions that typically involve maximizing reward by selecting the current best option. Patterns of neuronal activity pertaining to patch-leaving decisions have been reported in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), whereas competition via mutual inhibition in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is thought to underlie value-guided choice. Here, we show that the balance between cortical excitation and inhibition (E/I balance), measured by the ratio of GABA and glutamate concentrations, plays a dissociable role for the two kinds of decisions. Patch-leaving decision behaviour relates to E/I balance in dACC. In contrast, value-guided decision-making relates to E/I balance in vmPFC. These results support mechanistic accounts of value-guided choice and provide evidence for a role of dACC E/I balance in patch-leaving decisions.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20875-w

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