Cross-species studies of orbitofrontal cortex and value-based decision-making

Recent work in a number of species has emphasized the role of orbitofrontal cortex in value-based decision-making. However, discrepancies have arisen when comparing the findings from animal models to those from humans. In this review, the author examines several possibilities that might explain these discrepancies. Recent work has emphasized the role that orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has in value-based decision-making. However, it is also clear that a number of discrepancies have arisen when comparing the findings from animal models to those from humans. Here, we examine several possibilities that might explain these discrepancies, including anatomical difference between species, the behavioral tasks used to probe decision-making and the methodologies used to assess neural function. Understanding how these differences affect the interpretation of experimental results will help us to better integrate future results from animal models. This will enable us to fully realize the benefits of using multiple approaches to understand OFC function.