Serotonergic orchestration of frontal cortical neural dynamics underlying economic decision-making

Animals make economic decisions, weighing potential costs and payoffs of each option. Past studies have linked both frontal cortical activity and neuromodulatory release to economic decision-making, yet how these work together to influence choice remains unclear. A key technical limitation has been the lack of tools to perform simultaneous, high-resolution imaging of neuromodulatory and cortical signals. To study the relationship between these signals, this proposal focuses on serotonin release in dorsal frontal cortex as a testbed for two reasons: first, dorsal frontal cortex is readily accessible to cutting-edge dual-color two-photon (2p) imaging techniques, and second, serotonin encodes economic variables such as state value and reward, and projects strongly to frontal cortex. I first plan to conduct dual-color 2p imaging from mice performing visual decision-making tasks, allowing the construction of cell-type-specific spatial maps of serotonin release. Next, using optogenetic tools, I will clarify the relationship between serotonin release and cortical encoding of economic variables. Finally, using advanced optical tools, I will determine whether the precise spatial structure of serotonin release in frontal cortex is necessary to guide complex economic decisions. This work will provide fundamental insights into how neuromodulatory release and cortical dynamics work together to control economic decision-making.