The role of supplementary eye field in goal-directed behavior. Issue 1 (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stuphorn, Veit
• Is Part Of: Journal of physiology -Paris. Volume 109:Issue 1/3(2015)
• Page Start: 118
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Frontal cortex -- Decision making -- Control -- Evaluation -- Primate; Physiology -- Periodicals; 571.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2015.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0928-4257

Abstract

Highlights: SEF's role in various control and monitoring functions has been studied in monkeys. SEF signals the context-dependent action value of possible oculomotor behaviors. SEF does not have the ability to directly select eye movements. Instead, action value signals influence the activity in primary oculomotor areas. Evaluation signals in SEF allow updating of the contextual action value signals. Abstract: The medial frontal cortex has been suggested to play a role in the control, monitoring, and selection of behavior. The supplementary eye field (SEF) is a cortical area within medial frontal cortex that is involved in the regulation of eye movements. Neurophysiological studies in the SEF of macaque monkeys have systematically investigated the role of SEF in various behavioral control and monitoring functions. Inhibitory control studies indicate that SEF neurons do not directly participate in the initiation of eye movements. Instead, recent value-based decision making studies suggest that the SEF participates in the control of eye movements by representing the context-dependent action values of all currently possible oculomotor behaviors. These action value signals in SEF would be useful in directing the activity distribution in more primary oculomotor areas, to guide decisions towards behaviorally optimal choices. SEF also does not participate in the fast, inhibitory control of eye movements in response to sudden changes in the task requirements. Instead, it participates in the long-term regulation of oculomotor excitability to adjust the speed-accuracy tradeoff. The context-dependent control signals found in SEF (including the action value signals) have to be learned and continuously adjusted in response to changes in the environment. This is likely the function of the large number of different response monitoring and evaluation signals in SEF. In conclusion, the overall function of SEF in goal-directed behavior seems to be the learning of context-dependent rules that allow predicting the likely consequences of different eye movements. This map of action value signals could be used so that eye movements are selected that best fulfill the current long-term goal of the agent.