Human claustrum neurons encode uncertainty and prediction errors during aversive learning.

Human claustrum neurons encode uncertainty and prediction errors during aversive learning, with distinct responses observed across brain regions.

• Why it matters: Understanding how the brain updates internal models during flexible behavior is crucial, yet the neural circuits involved are not well characterized, especially in humans.
• What they did: Single-neuron recordings from the human claustrum, anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala were conducted during aversive learning tasks, revealing region-specific encoding of task-related variables.
• The result: Claustrum neurons track higher-order cognitive variables like uncertainty and prediction errors, highlighting their role in adaptive behavior and differentiating their function from other regions such as the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex.