Sequential neural information processing in nidopallium caudolaterale of pigeons during the acquisition process of operant conditioning

Goal given moment modulates the time period of gamma oscillations in nidopallium caudolaterale during the goal-directed behavior of pigeon

The cognitive processes of goal-directed navigation are believed to be organized around and serve the identification and selection of goals. Differences in LFP signals in avian nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL) under different goal location/distance information in the goal-directed behavior have been studied. However, for goals that are multifarious constructs that include various information, the modulation of goal time information on the LFP of NCL during goal-directed behavior remains unclear. In this study, we recorded the LFP activity from the NCL of eight pigeons as they performed two goal-directed decision-making tasks in a plus-maze. During the two tasks with different goal time information, spectral analysis revealed significant LFP power selectively enhanced in the slow gamma band (40-60 Hz), while the slow gamma band of LFP which could effectively decode the behavioral goal of the pigeons existed in different time periods. These findings suggest that the LFP activity in the gamma band correlates with the goal-time information, and help to shed light on the contribution of the gamma rhythm recorded from the NCL in goal-directed behavior.