Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation in Anterior Cingulate Cortex Impairs Information Sampling and Learning in Loss Contexts

Abstract

Neuronal subgroups in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the anterior striatum (STR) encode the reward structure of a given environment. But whether or how this reward information is used to guide information sampling, optimize decision making, or motivate behavior in cognitively challenging situations has remained elusive. Here, we causally tested these scenarios by transiently disrupting ACC and STR of rhesus monkeys with transcranial ultrasound with a learning task that independently varied cognitive and motivational demands. We found that disrupting the ACC, but not the STR, prolonged information sampling and reduced learning efficiency whenever the motivational payoff was low. These impairments were most pronounced at high cognitive demands and based on an inability to use loss experiences to improve performance. These results provide causal evidence that the ACC is necessary for motivation, to overcome anticipated costs from negative (loss) outcomes, and for cognition, to enhance visual information sampling during adaptive behavior. HIGHLIGHTSO_LITranscranial ultrasound stimulation of the anterior cingulate cortex disrupts learning after loss experience. C_LIO_LIThe ultrasound-induced learning deficit is exacerbated at high cognitive load. C_LIO_LIThe ultrasound-induced learning deficit is accompanied by inefficient fixational information sampling. C_LIO_LIAnterior cingulate cortex causally supports credit assignment of aversive outcomes to visual features. C_LI