Cell types implement multiple coding schemes in distinct prefrontal cortex areas during goal-directed behavior

Abstract

Goal-directed behavior in complex environments relies on prefrontal (PF) microcircuits to generate, maintain in working memory (WM) and monitor choices. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying WM and choice monitoring remain conflictual and poorly understood. We investigated how distinct cell types represent choice, examining both coding magnitude and temporal coding schemes to distinguish between static and dynamic schemes across dorsolateral (PFdl), orbital (PFo), and frontopolar (PFp) prefrontal cortex in two macaques performing a Cued Strategy task. We consistently observed in putative interneurons both a higher coding magnitude than putative pyramidal neurons and a dynamic coding scheme across the PF areas. However, putative pyramidal neurons showed heterogeneous coding schemes, which in PFdl shifted from static to dynamic from WM to monitoring. PFo showed a similar dynamic scheme, and PFp was the only area with a static scheme during monitoring. Our results reveal rich population dynamics in PF microcircuits governed by pyramidal neurons.