Optimal coding and neuronal adaptation in economic decisions. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rustichini, Aldo; Conen, Katherine; Cai, Xinying; Padoa-Schioppa, Camillo
• Is Part Of: Nature communications. Volume 8:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 14
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Biology -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01373-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-1723

Abstract

Abstract During economic decisions, offer value cells in orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) encode the values of offered goods. Furthermore, their tuning functions adapt to the range of values available in any given context. A fundamental and open question is whether range adaptation is behaviorally advantageous. Here we present a theory of optimal coding for economic decisions. We propose that the representation of offer values is optimal if it ensures maximal expected payoff. In this framework, we examine offer value cells in non-human primates. We show that their responses are quasi-linear even when optimal tuning functions are highly non-linear. Most importantly, we demonstrate that for linear tuning functions range adaptation maximizes the expected payoff. Thus value coding in OFC is functionally rigid (linear tuning) but parametrically plastic (range adaptation with optimal gain). Importantly, the benefit of range adaptation outweighs the cost of functional rigidity. While generally suboptimal, linear tuning may facilitate transitive choices. During economic decisions, offer value cells in orbitofrontal cortex encode the values of offered goods and undergo range adaptation. Here the authors present a theory of optimal coding based on payoff maximization. For linear tuning functions, range adaptation in offer value cells ensures maximal expected payoff.