Cooperation: Behavioral manifestations and neural mechanisms

Cooperation is one of the defining features of our species. Our ability to work together in groups was pivotal to our evolutionary history and is crucial for maintaining current societies. Despite its significance, the questions of what drives cooperation, how it emerges, and what determines its success or failure remain largely unresolved. In recent years, a growing body of research across species has begun to address these fundamental questions using diverse behavioral and neural approaches. In this review, we discuss the key features of cooperative behavior and summarize recent advances in understanding its behavioral and neural basis. We highlight the critical roles of partner information and flexible behavioral strategies in facilitating cooperation and provide an integrated overview of neural mechanisms spanning the entire cooperative process, from recognizing and monitoring partners to employing adaptive behavioral strategies, making cooperative decisions, executing joint actions, and evaluating outcomes.