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The neural correlates of subjective value during intertemporal choice
Joseph W Kable1, Paul W Glimcher
1Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Nature Neuroscience
|November 6, 2007
Summary
Neuroimaging reveals the brain explicitly represents subjective value for delayed monetary rewards. Specific regions, including the ventral striatum, track these personal valuations during decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroeconomics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Neuroimaging studies often link brain activity to objective decision-making factors like reward magnitude or delay.
- Economic theories suggest individuals assign subjective values to choices, influencing behavior.
- A gap exists in understanding how the brain represents these subjective valuations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if neural activity explicitly represents the subjective value of delayed monetary rewards.
- To identify brain regions involved in processing subjective value during decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to monitor brain activity.
- Participants' choices involving delayed monetary rewards were analyzed.
- Neural activity was correlated with revealed subjective values.
Main Results:
- Neural activity in key brain regions, including the ventral striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex, correlated with subjective reward value.
- This neural tracking specifically applied to the subjective valuation of delayed monetary rewards.
Conclusions:
- The human brain explicitly represents the subjective value of potential rewards.
- Findings support economic theories by demonstrating neural correlates of subjective value in decision-making.
- This research provides a neural basis for understanding subjective valuation in choice behavior.
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