Midbrain signaling of identity prediction errors depends on orbitofrontal cortex networks

Qingfang Liu, Yao Zhao, Sumedha Attanti, Joel L. Voss, Geoffrey Schoenbaum and Thorsten Kahnt ()
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Qingfang Liu: National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program
Yao Zhao: National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program
Sumedha Attanti: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Joel L. Voss: The University of Chicago
Geoffrey Schoenbaum: National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program
Thorsten Kahnt: National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Outcome-guided behavior requires knowledge about the identity of future rewards. Previous work across species has shown that the dopaminergic midbrain responds to violations in expected reward identity and that the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) represents reward identity expectations. Here we used network-targeted transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a trans-reinforcer reversal learning task to test the hypothesis that outcome expectations in the lateral OFC contribute to the computation of identity prediction errors (iPE) in the midbrain. Network-targeted TMS aiming at lateral OFC reduced the global connectedness of the lateral OFC and impaired reward identity learning in the first block of trials. Critically, TMS disrupted neural representations of expected reward identity in the OFC and modulated iPE responses in the midbrain. These results support the idea that iPE signals in the dopaminergic midbrain are computed based on outcome expectations represented in the lateral OFC.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45880-1

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