title: The neural basis of integrating pre- and post-response information for goal-directed actions.
abstract: A fundamental prerequisite for goal-directed action is to encode the contingencies between responses (R) producing specific outcomes (O) in specific stimulus conditions (S). The present study aimed to characterize the functional neuroanatomy of different associational sub-components of such S-R-O contingencies during the first few trials of exposure. We devised a novel paradigm that was suited to distinguish BOLD activation patterns related to S-R, R-O, and the full S-R-O contingency. Different from previous studies our experimental design ensured that stimulus-related processes and outcome-related processes were maximally comparable, as both were learned incidentally and lacked intrinsic incentive value, and different from trial-and-error learning situations, outcomes did not serve a special role as performance feedback. We observed contingency-related dissociations between SMA, lateral OFC, and large parts of the reward system including central OFC, anterior striatum and midbrain areas. While the lateral OFC was involved in processing differential outcomes irrespective of a predictive stimulus context, the SMA was specifically engaged when differential outcomes could be predicted by the stimulus. By contrast, the activation pattern of reward system areas suggested that these regions serve a role in integrating non-incentive differential outcome information and incentive common outcome information. Together, these results support the notion that striatal and orbitofrontal regions are involved in outcome-related processes beyond trial-and-error S-R learning, that is, when outcomes are non-incentive and do not serve as reinforcing feedback that drives learning. Furthermore, our results clarify the role of the SMA in outcome-related processes thereby supporting current versions of ideomotor theory.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology, and Methods of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany. Electronic address: steffi.frimmel@tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frimmel
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology, and Methods of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wolfensteller
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology, and Methods of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Psychology, Biopsychology, and Methods of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Technische Universitaet Dresden, Dresden 01062, Germany. Electronic address: hannes.ruge@tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruge
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009042:Motivation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Basal ganglia; Differential outcomes; Intention; Orbitofrontal cortex; Supplementary motor area; fMRI