Data from: Orbitofrontal cortex computes gaze-dependent comparisons between attributes rather than integrated values
Data files
Jul 15, 2025 version files 39.45 MB
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BehaviorData.mat
646.11 KB
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CPD_elr.m
558 B
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GazeData_C.mat
1.31 MB
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GazeData_D.mat
2.33 MB
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MultiAtt_Behavior_ModelRecovery.m
3.70 KB
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MultiAtt_BehaviorAnalyses.m
15.46 KB
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MultiAtt_gazesimulations.m
13.57 KB
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MultiAtt_NeuronAnalyses_gazealigned.m
51.53 KB
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MultiAtt_NeuronAnalyses_trialaligned.m
27.28 KB
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NeuronData.mat
35.04 MB
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README.md
6.07 KB
Abstract
Economic decisions often require weighing multiple dimensions, or attributes. The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to be important for computing the integrated value of an option from its attributes and comparing values to make a choice. Although OFC neurons are known to encode integrated values, evidence for value comparison has been limited. Here, we used a multi-attribute choice task for monkeys (Macaca mulatta) to investigate how OFC neurons integrate and compare multi-attribute options. By representing attributes with separate cues and using eye tracking to measure attention, we demonstrate that OFC neurons encode the value of attended attributes independent of other attributes in the same option. Encoding was negatively weighted by the value of the matching attribute in the other option, consistent with a comparison between like attributes. These results indicate that OFC computes comparisons between attributes rather than integrated values, and does so dynamically, shifting with the focus of attention.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.f1vhhmh7t
Description of the data and file structure
This submission includes data and original code for results in Perkins and Rich (PLoS Biology, 2025). Please see the associated publication for supporting information.
Files and variables
File: BehaviorData.mat
Description: A data structure including task-related behavioral variables for two NHPs (C and D). Data are organized by subject and session. Three-option trials were excluded from the publication and appear as NaNs in trial-wise variables.
Variables
- OfferedSwt - ordinal values of sweetness options on each trial
- OfferedProb - ordinal values of probability option on each trial. Options are in the same order as OfferedSwt
- OfferedSwtAtts - the attribute mappings of sweetness options (1 = direct; 2 = indirect)
- OfferedProbAtts - the attribute mappings of probability options
- Opt1Pos - x,y position of the center of option 1. Option 1 is the first entry in the Offered variables
- ChosenOpt - option (1 or 2) chosen by the subject
- Opt2Pos - x,y position of the center of option 2. Option 2 is the second entry in the Offered variables
File: NeuronData.mat
Description: A data structure including neuron time stamps and trial-wise options onset times for two-option trials. Data are organized by subject and session.
Variables
- Neurons - cell array of neuron time stamps, in ms relative to the start of the session. One neuron per cell.
- OptionOnsetTime - time stamp in ms, relative to the start of the session, of the appearance of choice options on each 2-option trial.
File: GazeData_C.mat
Description: A data structure including gaze-related behavioral variables for Subject C, 30 sessions.
Variables
- numtrials - the number of trials with 1 - 20 (each column) pre-choice fixations. Each row is a session.
- optionfirstfixChUch - number of trials with one or more pre-choice fixations, in which the chosen (first column) or unchosen (second column) was fixated first. Each row is a session.
- attributefirstfix - number of trials with one or more pre-choice fixations, in which a sweetness bar (first column) or probability bar (second column) was fixated first. Each row is a session.
- betterSwtfirstfix - number of trials with one or more pre-choice fixations, in which a sweetness bar was fixated first and the sweetness bar is the better sweetness (first column), the sweetness bars have equal value (second column), or it is the worse sweetness (third column). Each row is a session.
- betterProbfirstfix - number of trials with one or more pre-choice fixations, in which a probability bar was fixated first and the probability bar is the better probability (first column), the probability bars have equal value (second column), or it is the worse probability (third column). Each row is a session.
- transitions - number of trials with two or more pre-choice fixations, in which the second fixation was to the paired attribute (first column), the like attribute in the other option (second column) or to the other attribute of the other option (third column). Each row is a session.
- twofixestimes - Each cell is a session. First and third columns in each cell: time stamps (in ms), relative to the start of each trial, of the first two fixations on trials with two or more pre-choice fixations. Second and fourth columns: durations (in ms) of the same two fixations.
- trialwisevars_fix1 - Each cell is a session. Regression variables in Eq. 10 of the manuscript for the first fixation of trials with two or more pre-choice fixations.
- trialwisevars_fix2 - Each cell is a session. Regression variables in Eq. 10 of the manuscript for the second fixation of trials with two or more pre-choice fixations.
- trialwisevars_optionfix1 - Each cell is a session. Regression variables in Eq. 11 of the manuscript for the first fixation of trials with two or more pre-choice fixations.
- trialwisevars_optionfix2 - Each cell is a session. Regression variables in Eq. 11 of the manuscript for the second fixation of trials with two or more pre-choice fixations.
- trialwisevars_chuch - Each cell is a session. Regression variables in Eq. 5 of the manuscript in the following order: [ChosenSwt ChosenProb UnchosenSwt UnchosenProb ChosenSwtAtt ChosenProbAtt UnchosenSwtAtt UnchosenProbAtt].
File: GazeData_D.mat
Description: Same as Gazedata_C, except for Subject D, 43 Sessions.
Code/software
File: MultiAtt_BehaviorAnalyses.m
Description: Code for analyses and figures of behavior data in Figs 1c, 1e-g, and S1a-j.
File: MultiAtt_Behavior_ModelRecovery.m
Description: Performs model recovery of additive vs multiplicative models in Fig S1D using trial variables from one session. Called by MultiAtt_BehaviorAnalyses.m
File: MultiAtt_NeuronAnalyses_trialaligned.m
Description: Code for trial-aligned neural analyses and figures in Figs 2b-g, and S2e-i.
File: MultiAtt_NeuronAnalyses_gazealigned.m
Description: Code for analyses and figures of gaze-aligned data in figures Fig 3b-f and S4a-b, Fig 4c-e and S4c-g, Fig S3b, Fig 5b and S6b-d, Fig 5c-f and S6e-j, Fig 6b and S7. **requires custom code: ‘MyBinomTest.m’ available at: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/24813-mybinomtest-s-n-p-sided
File: MultiAtt_gazesimulations.m
Description: Code that simulates neuron responses and performs gaze-aligned analyses on simulated data, separately for each subject, to produce results in Fig S5.
File: CPD_elr.m
Description: Helper function that computes the coefficient of partial determination (CPD). Called by MultiAtt_NeuronAnalyses_gazealigned.m
Access information
Reference: Perkins, A.Q. and Rich, E.L. PLoS Biol, 2025