# Human claustrum neurons encode uncertainty and prediction error, recordings in epilepsy patients

- Published: 2026-11-14 02:54 UTC
- Section: Life & Health › Neurotechnology
- Tags: human claustrum, single-neuron recordings, uncertainty encoding, prediction error, aversive learning, anterior cingulate cortex, depth electrodes, latent task states
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-7a4baef160c296e5a1b1c437_human_claustrum_neurons/

**Single-neuron recordings in patients with refractory epilepsy show claustrum cells track uncertainty and prediction error during aversive learning, alongside the anterior cingulate cortex.**

![Human claustrum neurons encode uncertainty and prediction error, recordings in epilepsy patients](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/1d2caeb06ed488f0.png)
*nature.com*

Researchers recorded single-neuron activity from the human claustrum, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and amygdala in seven patients with refractory epilepsy, according to a paper on nature.com. [1] The patients performed an aversive learning task during the recordings. Claustrum neurons gave sharp, time-locked responses to visual stimulus onset and encoded model-derived uncertainty and prediction error (PE). [1]

## Recording and task

The patients had depth electrodes implanted by a robot to localize seizure onset. Each macro-electrode carried eight 40-μm microwires protruding 4 mm from the tip. The microwires targeted the claustrum in four patients (six bundles), the dorsal ACC in six patients (eight bundles) and the basolateral amygdala in three patients (four bundles). Locations were confirmed by coregistering preoperative MRI with high-resolution postoperative CT; the claustrum is about 1 mm thick. [1]

The task was a visuomotor computer game. Participants steered a spaceship to avoid asteroids while implicitly monitoring stimulus–outcome contingencies. Approximate Bayesian modeling gave trial-by-trial estimates of subjective uncertainty and PE, which the authors linked to neuronal activity. [1]

## What the neurons encoded

Claustrum and ACC neurons showed structured, task-related responses. Distinct subpopulations encoded stimulus onset and action-contingent outcomes, and the outcome representations diverged between the two regions. [1]

Both regions encoded uncertainty and PE, but with different temporal profiles. Only the ACC carried uncertainty signals during the intertrial period, whereas both regions encoded uncertainty and PE during the active-avoidance period. [1] The amygdala showed minimal modulation by these variables. [1]

The authors describe this as cellular-level evidence in humans that the claustrum tracks higher-order variables not directly observable from sensory input. They also report dissociable roles for the claustrum and the ACC in tracking latent task states. [1] As background, they note that earlier single-unit recordings in nonhuman primates suggested predominantly unimodal claustrum representations. Direct neuronal recordings from primates are scarce, and the structure's small size complicates localization with functional neuroimaging. [1]

## Sources

1. [nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02475-x)
2. [socportal.info](https://socportal.info/ru/news/uchenye-vpervye-izuchili-kak-neirony-v-mozgu-cheloveka-reagiruiut-na-neopredelennost)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-7a4baef160c296e5a1b1c437_human_claustrum_neurons/