Value coding by primate amygdala neurons complies with the continuity axiom of economic choice theory

Journal article

The primate amygdala contributes to decision-making by encoding the subjective value of rewards, but whether these signals align with principles of economic theory remains unclear. Here, we tested compliance of amygdala value-coding with the continuity axiom of Expected Utility Theory (EUT), which posits a trade-off between reward probability and magnitude, in two male macaques. Given three ranked gambles, axiom-compliance was assessed via the monkeys' behavioral indifference between the intermediate gamble and a probabilistic combination of the other two. Choices reflected probability-magnitude integration to scalar subjective values consistent with the axiom. In a non-choice task, amygdala neurons showed graded responses to probability and magnitude cues that reflected these individual preferences, equalizing at subjective indifference. During choice, amygdala neurons directly integrated these value components and translated them into chosen-value and choice signals. These findings demonstrate that amygdala neurons represent behaviorally relevant, preference-based values in accordance with EUT's continuity axiom, and contribute to translating these values into economic decisions.

Authors: Grabenhorst, F; Schultz, W; Ferrari-Toniolo, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physiological Society
• Journal: Journal of Neurophysiology
• Place of publication: United States
• Publication date: 2026-02-13
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-08
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.00574.2025
• EISSN: 1522-1598
• ISSN: 0022-3077
• Pmid: 41686082
• Language: English
• Keywords: behavioral and social science; basic behavioral and social science; neurosciences; mental health