Efficient value encoding through convergence of tactile and visual value information in the primate putamen

Abstract

Abstract Primates use fingers and eyes to discriminate diverse values from tactile and visual stimuli for decision-making. However, the limited number of neurons raises the question of how the brain processes diverse values with this constraint. Here, we discovered that tactile and visual values converge to form an abstract representation of value in single putamen neurons, enabling efficient value-coding with fewer neurons. Humans and monkeys performed tactile and visual value discrimination tasks while neural responses were examined. The human putamen selectively represented both values in fMRI. Single-unit electrophysiology in the macaque putamen further revealed that half of value-processing neurons encoded both values, regardless of sensory inputs, showing value abstraction in single neurons. Notably, incorporating more of these bimodal value neurons enables discriminating values with a smaller number of total neurons. Our data indicate that the basal ganglia system abstracts different sensory values within individual neurons, facilitating efficient decision-making despite limited resources.