The representation of decision variables in orbitofrontal cortex is longitudinally stable

The computation and comparison of subjective values underlying economic choices rely on the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). In this area, distinct groups of neurons encode the value of individual options, the binary choice outcome, and the chosen value. These variables capture both the choice input and the choice output, suggesting that the cell groups found in the OFC constitute the building blocks of a decision circuit. Here, we show that this neural circuit is longitudinally stable. Using two-photon calcium imaging, we record from the OFC of mice engaged in a juice-choice task. Imaging of individual cells continues for up to 40 weeks. For each cell and each session pair, we compare activity profiles using cosine similarity, and we assess whether the neuron encodes the same variable in both sessions. We find a high degree of stability and a modest representational drift. Quantitative estimates indicate that this drift would not randomize the circuit within the animal's lifetime.