Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation01:27

Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation

Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and often termed the "push theory" of motivation, provides a framework for understanding how biological and learned drives influence behavior. Hull suggested that motivation originates from the need to alleviate physiological tension caused by unmet biological necessities. The theory proposes that when a basic need, such as hunger or sleep, goes unfulfilled, it creates an internal imbalance. This imbalance, or drive, pushes...
Law of Effect01:06

Law of Effect

B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle boxes...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes01:15

Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes

Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The oracle and the didact: Orbitofrontal influences on learning and dopaminergic error signaling.

Neuron·2026
Same author

Prior cocaine use disrupts identification of hidden states by single units and neural ensembles in orbitofrontal cortex.

eLife·2026
Same author

What Is My Neuron Doing? Commentary on Huang et al. (2026).

eNeuro·2026
Same author

Persistent representation of a prior schema in the orbitofrontal cortex facilitates learning of a conflicting schema.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Generation and characterization of a tamoxifen-inducible, Cre driver rat for transgene expression in microglia.

Scientific reports·2025
Same author

Distinct contributions of anterior and posterior orbitofrontal cortex to outcome-guided behavior.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Learning theory: a driving force in understanding orbitofrontal function.

Michael A McDannald1, Joshua L Jones2, Yuji K Takahashi1

  • 1National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|June 18, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is crucial for flexible, goal-directed behavior and learning. Research using learning theory paradigms shows the OFC integrates outcome information to guide actions.

Keywords:
BlockingDevaluationLearning theoryOrbitofrontalOverexpectationReversalSensory preconditioningTransfer

More Related Videos

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
10:33

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis

Published on: June 20, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis
10:33

Correlating Behavioral Responses to fMRI Signals from Human Prefrontal Cortex: Examining Cognitive Processes Using Task Analysis

Published on: June 20, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Behavioral Psychology

Background:

  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is recognized for its role in reversal learning.
  • Flexible, outcome-guided behavior relies on integrating environmental cues and their consequences.
  • Behavioral paradigms are essential tools for dissecting complex cognitive functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the specific functions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in flexible, outcome-guided behavior.
  • To investigate how the OFC processes information about events and outcomes.
  • To understand the OFC's contribution to learning and behavioral adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing established behavioral paradigms from learning theory, including outcome devaluation, blocking, Pavlovian to instrumental transfer, and overexpectation.
  • Analyzing behavioral responses in relation to specific outcome contingencies.
  • Examining the role of the OFC in integrating diverse informational components of learning.

Main Results:

  • The OFC plays a critical role in reversal learning, demonstrating its importance in behavioral flexibility.
  • The OFC is essential for forming and integrating information about specific event and outcome features.
  • These integration capabilities enable the OFC to effectively guide behavior and learning.

Conclusions:

  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is indispensable for adaptive, flexible behavior driven by learned outcomes.
  • Learning theory principles provide a robust framework for neuroscience research into OFC function.
  • Neuroscience research effectively leverages behavioral paradigms to reveal the neural underpinnings of complex cognition.