Behavioral Social Neuroscience Seminar

Decisions, whether economic, political or between flavors at the ice cream stand, may rely on common brain substrates. I will review evidence from patients with damage to orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortex arguing that this brain region is critical for value-based decision-making across a variety of domains. I will also review work on the role this region plays in 'constructing' value in the context of trial-and-error learning. Finally, I will address whether other prefrontal regions also play necessary roles in decision-making, and the related question of whether other executive functions are engaged to support decision-making.