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. 2025 Jun 12;188(12):3259-3273.e22.
doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.038. Epub 2025 Apr 21.

A cognitive map for value-guided choice in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Sebastijan Veselic  1 , Timothy H Muller  2 , Elena Gutierrez  3 , Timothy E J Behrens  4 , Laurence T Hunt  5 , James L Butler  2 , Steven W Kennerley  3
Affiliations

A cognitive map for value-guided choice in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex

Sebastijan Veselic et al. Cell. .

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for economic decision-making. However, how PFC value representations facilitate flexible decisions remains unknown. We reframe economic decision-making as a navigation process through a cognitive map of choice values. We found rhesus macaques represented choices as navigation trajectories in a value space using a grid-like code. This occurred in ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) local field potential theta frequency across two datasets. vmPFC neurons deployed the same grid-like code and encoded chosen value. However, both signals depended on theta phase: occurring on theta troughs but on separate theta cycles. Finally, we found sharp-wave ripples-a key signature of planning and flexible behavior-in vmPFC. Thus, vmPFC utilizes cognitive map-based computations to organize and compare values, suggesting an alternative architecture for economic choice in PFC.

Keywords: cognitive map; grid cells; grid-like coding; prospect theory; sharp-wave ripples; theta frequency; ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.

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