Environmental complexity modulates information processing and the balance between decision-making systems.

ABSTRACT: Behavior in naturalistic scenarios occurs in diverse environments. Adaptive strategies rely on multiple neural circuits and competing decision systems. However, past studies of rodent decision making have largely measured behavior in simple environments. To fill this gap, we recorded neural ensembles from hippocampus (HC), dorsolateral striatum (DLS), and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) while rats foraged for food under changing rules in environments with varying topological complexity. Environmental complexity increased behavioral variability, lengthened HC nonlocal sequences, and modulated action caching. We found contrasting representations between DLS and HC, supporting a competition between decision systems. dmPFC activity was indicative of setting this balance, in particular pr

SUBMITTER: Mugan U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11659045 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature