Orbitofrontal cortex, associative learning, and expectancies.
Orbitofrontal cortex is characterized by its unique pattern of connections with subcortical areas, such as basolateral amygdala. Here we distinguish between the critical role of these areas in associative learning and the pivotal contribution of OFC to the manipulation of this information to control behavior. This contribution reflects the ability of OFC to signal the desirability of expected outcomes, which requires the integration of associative information with information concerning internal states and goals in representational memory.
Schoenbaum
Geoffrey
G
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street, HSF-2 S251, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. schoenbg@schoenbaumlab.org
Roesch
Matthew
M
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009915:Orbit / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*