Orbitofrontal Cortex Encodes Decision Signals during Value-based But Not Perceptual Decisions

Abstract

A fundamental question in neuroscience is whether the brain uses specialized subsystems for different types of decisions or relies on a unified decision-making network. The OFC provides an ideal test case for this question: It has a well-established role in value-based decisions, but it remains unknown whether this reflects functional specialization or participation in a broader, general decision network. To distinguish between these possibilities, we used Neuropixels to monitor large ensembles of OFC neurons as a monkey performed both value-based and perceptual decision tasks. Consistent with prior reports, OFC robustly encoded decision-relevant information during value-based decisions. In contrast, during the perceptual task, OFC did not carry decision-relevant signals at either the single neuron or population level. This highlights the specialization of the OFC for value-based decisions and suggests that the different cognitive demands underlying different types of decisions recruit at least partially distinct neural circuits.