Spatially specific reward signals in visual areas during closed-loop naturalistic interaction

COEX 

Our visual system actively gathers information from the environment to facilitate actions aligned with behavioral goals, and reward information plays a significant role in connecting sensory inputs with optimal actions. While previous animal studies have demonstrated that visually responsive brain regions, ranging from the primary visual cortex (V1) [1,2] to the frontal eye field (FEF) [3], show sensitivity to reward values within their receptive fields [4,5], the mechanism through which potential rewards modulate visual representations during goal-directed actions in dynamic naturalistic settings remains poorly understood, particularly in humans. To address this gap, we introduced an innovative Minecraft-based 3D interactive task, where participants strategically plan to achieve goals while navigating a virtual world. We hypothesized that rewards would elicit spatially specific responses, prioritizing the processing of important stimuli and supporting efficient visually guided actions towards them.