title: The human amygdala encodes value and space during decision making.
abstract: Valuable stimuli are invariably localized in space. While our knowledge regarding the neural networks supporting value assignment and comparisons is considerable, we lack a basic understanding of how the human brain integrates motivational and spatial information. The amygdala is a key structure for learning and maintaining the value of sensory stimuli and a recent non-human primate study provided initial evidence that it also acts to integrate value with spatial location, a question we address here in a human setting. We measured haemodynamic responses (fMRI) in amygdala while manipulating the value and spatial configuration of stimuli in a simple stimulus-reward task. Subjects responded significantly faster and showed greater amygdala activation when a reward was dependent on a spatial specific response, compared to when a reward required less spatial specificity. Supplemental analysis supported this spatial specificity by demonstrating that the pattern of amygdala activity varied based on whether subjects responded to a motivational target presented in the ipsilateral or contralateral visual space. Our data show that the human amygdala integrates information about space and value, an integration of likely importance for assigning cognitive resources towards highly valuable stimuli in our environment.
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: o.ousdal@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olga Therese
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Ousdal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Medial Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Medical Engineering, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Specht
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Server
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ray J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.affiliation: NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Psychology, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012201:Reward; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amygdala; Anterior cingulate cortex; Emotion; Spatial coding; Value; fMRI
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