title: Beta coherence within human ventromedial prefrontal cortex precedes affective value choices.
abstract: Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) forms a core region of larger brain circuits that assign value to sensory inputs and interfaces motivational and cognitive dominated brain processes. This network function of the vmPFC could be realized by synchronizing local activity at time scales that are shared by connected brain areas, but it is unknown whether vmPFC circuitry engages in functionally specific synchronization. Here, we recorded in human subcallosal vmPFC while subjects engaged in an emotion tracking task that required the assignment of positive or negative affective value to ambiguous (happy-sad) facial expressions. We found that vmPFC engages in low beta-band (15-20 Hz) coherent activation just before subjects subjectively judged ambiguous facial expressions as conveying negative valence ('sad') information, but not before positive valence ('happy') judgments. The predictive beta coherence emerged particularly for conflicting rather than pure emotional facial cues and dissipated slowly after the choice was made. These results suggest that 15-20 Hz coherent activity within vmPFC marks a functional signature of a valuation process that informs categorical affective choices. We hypothesize that coherent beta band activation signifies functional interactions to anatomical vmPFC projection targets, raising the possibility that dysfunctional biases in affective valuation and an enhanced decision conflict in clinical depression could be indexed by alterations of beta coherent network activation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Krembil Neuroscience Centre and Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lipsman
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaping
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Westendorff
authors.forename: Tejas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: Andres M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Womelsdorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001611:Beta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Beta oscillation; Decision making; Deep brain stimulation; Depression; Emotion; Ventromedial prefrontal cortex