Abstract

The neural basis of perceptual decision making has typically been studied using measurements of single neuron activity, though decisions are likely based on the activity of large neuronal ensembles. Local field potentials (LFPs) may, in some cases, serve as a useful proxy for population activity and thus be useful for understanding the neural basis of perceptual decision making. However, little is known about whether LFPs in sensory areas include decision-related signals. We therefore analyzed LFPs recorded using two 48­electrode arrays implanted in primary visual cortex (V1) and area V4 of macaque monkeys trained to perform a fine orientation discrimination task. We found significant choice information in low (0–30 Hz) and higher (70–500 Hz) frequency components of the LFP, but little information in gamma frequencies (30–70 Hz). Choice information was more robust in V4 than V1 and stronger in LFPs than in simultaneously measured spiking activity. LFP-based choice information included a global component, common across electrodes within an area. Our findings reveal the presence of robust choice-related signals in the LFPs recorded in V1 and V4 and suggest that LFPs may be a useful complement to spike-based analyses of decision making.

中文翻译：

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早期和中期猕猴视觉皮层局部场电位的决策信号。

 抽象的

感知决策的神经基础通常是使用单个神经元活动的测量来研究的，尽管决策可能基于大型神经元集合的活动。在某些情况下，局部场电位（LFP）可以作为群体活动的有用代理，从而有助于理解感知决策的神经基础。然而，人们对感觉区域的 LFP 是否包含决策相关信号知之甚少。因此，我们分析了使用植入猕猴初级视觉皮层 (V1) 和 V4 区域的两个 48 电极阵列记录的 LFP，这些猕猴经过训练执行精细方向辨别任务。我们在 LFP 的低（0-30 Hz）和高（70-500 Hz）频率分量中发现了重要的选择信息，但在伽马频率（30-70 Hz）中信息很少。 V4 中的选择信息比 V1 中的选择信息更稳健，LFP 中的选择信息比同时测量的扣球活动中的选择信息更强。基于 LFP 的选择信息包括一个全局组件，在一个区域内的电极之间通用。我们的研究结果揭示了 V1 和 V4 中记录的 LFP 中存在强大的选择相关信号，并表明 LFP 可能是基于尖峰的决策分析的有用补充。