@article {67235,
	title = {The anterior cingulate cortex directs exploration of alternative strategies.},
	journal = {Neuron},
	volume = {109},
	year = {2021},
	month = {2021 Jun 2},
	pages = {1876-87},
	abstract = {<p>The ability to adjust one{\textquoteright}s behavioral strategy in complex environments is at the core of cognition. Doing so efficiently requires monitoring the reliability of the ongoing strategy and, when appropriate, switching away from it to evaluate alternatives. Studies in humans and non-human primates have uncovered signals in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) that reflect the pressure to switch away from the ongoing strategy, whereas other ACC signals relate to the pursuit of alternatives. However, whether these signals underlie computations that actually underpin strategy switching or merely reflect tracking of related variables remains unclear. Here we provide causal evidence that the rodent ACC actively arbitrates between persisting with the ongoing behavioral strategy and temporarily switching away to re-evaluate alternatives. Furthermore, by individually perturbing distinct output pathways, we establish that the two associated computations-determining whether to switch strategy and committing to the pursuit of a specific alternative-are segregated in the ACC microcircuitry.</p>
},
	issn = {1097-4199},
	doi = {10.1016/j.neuron.2021.03.028},
	author = {Tervo, D Gowanlock R and Kuleshova, Elena and Manakov, Maxim and Proskurin, Mikhail and Karlsson, Mattias and Lustig, Andy and Behnam, Reza and Karpova, Alla Y}
}
@article {45458,
	title = {Behavioral variability through stochastic choice and its gating by anterior cingulate cortex.},
	journal = {Cell},
	volume = {159},
	year = {2014},
	month = {2014 Sep 25},
	pages = {21-32},
	abstract = {<p>Behavioral choices that ignore prior experience promote exploration and unpredictability but are seemingly at odds with the brain{\textquoteright}s tendency to use experience to optimize behavioral choice. Indeed, when faced with virtual competitors, primates resort to strategic counterprediction rather than to stochastic choice. Here, we show that rats also use history- and model-based strategies when faced with similar competitors but can switch to a "stochastic" mode when challenged with a competitor that they cannot defeat by counterprediction. In this mode, outcomes associated with an animal{\textquoteright}s actions are ignored, and normal engagement of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is suppressed. Using circuit perturbations in\&nbsp;transgenic rats, we demonstrate that switching between strategic and stochastic behavioral modes is controlled by locus coeruleus input into ACC. Our\&nbsp;findings suggest that, under conditions of uncertainty about environmental rules, changes in noradrenergic input alter ACC output and prevent erroneous beliefs from guiding decisions, thus enabling behavioral variation.</p>
},
	issn = {1097-4172},
	doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2014.08.037},
	author = {Tervo, Dougal G R and Proskurin, Mikhail and Manakov, Maxim and Kabra, Mayank and Vollmer, Alison and Branson, Kristin and Karpova, Alla Y}
}
