科學(xué)家們?cè)?2月在線出版的《自然—神經(jīng)科學(xué)》期刊上報(bào)告說,，在制定會(huì)取得成功結(jié)果的決定中,，大腦額極皮層區(qū)域中的神經(jīng)細(xì)胞發(fā)揮了重要作用,。新研究首次報(bào)告了該區(qū)域的直接神經(jīng)成像記錄,，同時(shí)指出,，這一區(qū)域的反應(yīng)模式并不如以前認(rèn)為的那么復(fù)雜,，實(shí)際上非常簡(jiǎn)單,。
當(dāng)猴子在作出一項(xiàng)任務(wù)的決定時(shí),，Satoshi Tsujimoto和同事記錄了其額極皮層區(qū)的神經(jīng)元反應(yīng)。他們發(fā)現(xiàn),，這些神經(jīng)細(xì)胞編碼了猴子早期作決定的行為過程,，但時(shí)間發(fā)生在猴子接到它是否應(yīng)作出正確反應(yīng)的反饋信息時(shí)。
這種神經(jīng)細(xì)胞的簡(jiǎn)單反應(yīng)特征令人驚奇,，因?yàn)轭~極皮層區(qū)的其他神經(jīng)細(xì)胞有典型的復(fù)雜活動(dòng)模式,。然而，這些反應(yīng)卻有重要的含義,。我們需要學(xué)習(xí)重復(fù)有成功結(jié)果的行為,，但要鑒別出具體的成功行為卻是一件困難的事，尤其是在行為和結(jié)果產(chǎn)生時(shí)有諸多的干擾因素,。新研究顯示,，額極區(qū)域的神經(jīng)細(xì)胞負(fù)責(zé)提供早期決定所需要的信息,，確保產(chǎn)生成功結(jié)果的正確決定得到認(rèn)可。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原始出處：
Nature Neuroscience 6 December 2009 | doi:10.1038/nn.2453
Evaluating self-generated decisions in frontal pole cortex of monkeys
Satoshi Tsujimoto1,2, Aldo Genovesio1,3 & Steven P Wise1
The frontal pole cortex (FPC) expanded markedly during human evolution, but its function remains uncertain in both monkeys and humans. Accordingly, we examined single-cell activity in this area. On every trial, monkeys decided between two response targets on the basis of a 'stay' or 'shift' cue. Feedback followed at a fixed delay. FPC cells did not encode the monkeys' decisions when they were made, but did so later on, as feedback approached. This finding indicates that the FPC is involved in monitoring or evaluating decisions. Using a control task and delayed feedback, we found that decision coding lasted until feedback only when the monkeys combined working memory with sensory cues to 'self-generate' decisions, as opposed to when they simply followed trial-by-trial instructions. A role in monitoring or evaluating self-generated decisions could account for FPC's expansion during human evolution.
1 Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
2 Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Nada-Ku, Kobe, Japan.
3 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
