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

Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

6.4K
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
6.4K
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

381
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
381
Decision Making01:20

Decision Making

95
Decision-making is a fundamental cognitive process that involves evaluating alternatives and selecting among them. This process can range from simple choices, such as deciding what to wear, to complex decisions, like choosing a major in college or a career path. The complexity of the decision often dictates the approach we use, which can be broadly categorized into two types: automatic and controlled decision-making.
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
95
Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

227
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...
227
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

84
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective. 
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant...
84
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

5.1K
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,...
5.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Resting fMRI functional connectivity reflects fluctuations in inhibitory interneuron activity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Dynamic geometry remapping of neural activity within frontal and subcortical areas during decision-making.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in macaques guides decisions in different learning conditions.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Deep brain stimulation induces white matter remodeling and functional changes to brain-wide networks.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

Protein expression is associated with brain white matter in Veterans with Bipolar disorder and suicide attempts.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2026
Same author

Fetal and postnatal metal metabolism-related changes in brain function are associated with childhood behavioral deficits.

Science advances·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

5.9K

Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in macaques guides decisions in different learning contexts.

Atsushi Fujimoto1,2, Catherine Elorette1,2, Satoka H Fujimoto1,2

  • 1Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|September 30, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) adapts behavioral strategies based on environmental novelty. vlPFC circuits support flexible decision-making in changing contexts, influencing learning and reward processing.

More Related Videos

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
07:42

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents

Published on: August 2, 2018

13.5K
Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
07:05

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

5.9K
An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
07:42

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents

Published on: August 2, 2018

13.5K
Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.3K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Behavioral Economics

Background:

  • Adaptive behavioral strategies are crucial for maximizing rewards in dynamic environments.
  • The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) is involved in probabilistic reward learning and decision-making.
  • The precise role of context in vlPFC-mediated learning and decision-making remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how environmental context (novel vs. familiar stimuli) influences vlPFC activity and connectivity during probabilistic reward learning.
  • To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying context-dependent behavioral strategy adjustments.

Main Methods:

  • Functional neuroimaging (fMRI) data were collected from rhesus macaques performing a probabilistic learning task.
  • Two distinct environmental contexts were employed: novel visual stimuli and familiar visual stimuli.
  • Pharmacological manipulation (D2-receptor blockade) was used to assess the role of dopamine in vlPFC function.

Main Results:

  • vlPFC activity encoded reward outcomes consistently across contexts.
  • Behavioral strategies (win-stay/lose-shift) were preferentially encoded in vlPFC within novel contexts.
  • Functional connectivity patterns between vlPFC and other brain regions (ACC, mediodorsal thalamus) varied with behavioral strategy and context.
  • D2-receptor blockade impacted learning strategies and resting-state vlPFC activity.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple vlPFC-linked circuits contribute to adaptive decision-making.
  • Contextual novelty modulates vlPFC's role in encoding and implementing behavioral strategies.
  • Dopaminergic signaling influences vlPFC function in adaptive learning and decision-making.