Evidence accumulation from experience and observation in the cingulate cortex
Ruidong Chen1,2, Setayesh Radkani1,2, Neelima Valluru2
1Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Nature
|January 7, 2026
Summary
Humans and monkeys integrate personal experiences and social observations to form beliefs. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the brain processes this evidence, showing how we learn in social settings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Primate Behavior
Background:
- Beliefs about the world are formed and updated through personal experiences and by observing others.
- The neural mechanisms for integrating experiential and observational evidence remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the brain integrates experiential and observational evidence for belief updating.
- To identify the neural substrates involved in social learning and evidence accumulation.
Main Methods:
- A two-player game with volatile hidden states was used to study evidence integration in humans and monkeys.
- Electrophysiological recordings were performed in animals during the task.
- Analysis of population activity geometry to understand computational architecture.
Main Results:
- Both humans and monkeys updated beliefs using both experiential and observational evidence, with experiential evidence being more effective.
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was identified as a key region integrating these independent evidence streams.
- Neural population activity geometry provided insights into the integration process and behavioral asymmetry.
Conclusions:
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) forms a coherent neural representation of dynamic beliefs by integrating diverse evidence sources.
- This study elucidates the neural basis for evidence accumulation in social contexts within the primate brain.
- Findings offer a foundation for understanding social cognition and decision-making under uncertainty.
More Related Videos
05:35Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
Published on: April 19, 2017
7.1K
08:14Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience
Published on: August 26, 2014
12.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
2.3K
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
2.3K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.0K
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...
1.0K
01:17Cognitivism
2.7K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
2.7K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
6.9K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
6.9K
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
6.4K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
6.4K
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
4.0K
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....
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
4.0K