The Role of the Dorsal–Lateral Prefrontal Cortex in Reward Sensitivity During Approach–Avoidance Conflict. (31st August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rolle, Camarin E; Pedersen, Mads L; Johnson, Noriah; Amemori, Ken-ichi; Ironside, Maria; Graybiel, Ann M; Pizzagalli, Diego A; Etkin, Amit
• Is Part Of: Cerebral cortex. Volume 32:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1269
• Page End: 1285
• Publication Date: 2021-08-31
• Subjects: approach–avoidance conflict -- cognitive neuroscience -- dlPFC -- drift-diffusion modeling -- EEG -- spectral power -- TMS; Cerebral cortex -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab292
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-3211

Abstract

Abstract: Approach–Avoidance conflict (AAC) arises from decisions with embedded positive and negative outcomes, such that approaching leads to reward and punishment and avoiding to neither. Despite its importance, the field lacks a mechanistic understanding of which regions are driving avoidance behavior during conflict. In the current task, we utilized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and drift-diffusion modeling to investigate the role of one of the most prominent regions relevant to AAC—the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). The first experiment uses in-task disruption to examine the right dlPFC's (r-dlPFC) causal role in avoidance behavior. The second uses single TMS pulses to probe the excitability of the r-dlPFC, and downstream cortical activations, during avoidance behavior. Disrupting r-dlPFC during conflict decision-making reduced reward sensitivity. Further, r-dlPFC was engaged with a network of regions within the lateral and medial prefrontal, cingulate, and temporal cortices that associate with behavior during conflict. Together, these studies use TMS to demonstrate a role for the dlPFC in reward sensitivity during conflict and elucidate the r-dlPFC's network of cortical regions associated with avoidance behavior. By identifying r-dlPFC's mechanistic role in AAC behavior, contextualized within its conflict-specific downstream neural connectivity, we advance dlPFC as a potential neural target for psychiatric therapeutics.