New Study Reveals Parallel Roles of Orbitofrontal Cortex and Hippocampus in Building Cognitive Maps

Recent research published in Nature Neuroscience highlights the parallel functioning of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and hippocampus (HC) in the formation of cognitive maps and schemas. These internal mental representations enable humans and animals to navigate environments and make decisions based on accumulated experiences. Historically, studies suggested a sequential role of these regions: the HC creating foundational spatial and memory maps, with the OFC using this information to support decision-making. However, this new study by researchers at the National Institute of Drug Abuse introduces evidence supporting that both regions operate simultaneously, each extracting different features to build internal representations.

In their experiments with rats, the team recorded neural activity during task performance and when applying learned knowledge to new problems. They also manipulated neural pathways, specifically inactivating the ventral subiculum, a major output of the HC that communicates with the OFC. Findings showed that disrupting this pathway after learning did not impede the development of schemas, indicating that the OFC and HC work in parallel rather than in sequence. Interestingly, inactivating during the transfer phase actually accelerated schema formation, further supporting the parallel model. These insights deepen our understanding of the neural mechanisms behind internal representation and decision-making, with potential implications for understanding human cognition and related disorders.

The study suggests that both the OFC and hippocampus contribute simultaneously to the construction of cognitive maps, each emphasizing different aspects of experience, which might be crucial for flexible and adaptive behavior. Future research could explore these dynamics further to enhance our comprehension of learning processes and neural interconnectivity.