Neural computations associated with goal-directed choice

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2010 Apr;20(2):262-70. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2010.03.001. Epub 2010 Mar 24.

Abstract

In goal-directed decision-making, animals choose between actions that are associated with different reward outcomes (e.g., foods) and with different costs (e.g., effort). Rapid advances have been made over the past few years in our understanding of the computations associated with goal-directed choices, and of how those computations are implemented in the brain. We review some important findings, with an emphasis on computational models, human fMRI, and monkey neurophysiology studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Decision Making / physiology*
  • Executive Function / physiology
  • Goals*
  • Humans
  • Judgment / physiology*
  • Models, Animal
  • Motivation / physiology
  • Primates / anatomy & histology
  • Primates / physiology