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ScienceQuiet 3d · day 7

Brain's risk-reward tug of war mapped in real time

Researchers record neural activity showing how two frontal cortex regions battle over approach-avoidance decisions.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 4d ago4 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Two neighbouring regions in the orbitofrontal cortex compete in real time during risk-reward decisions—one drives reward pursuit, the other drives risk avoidance—with neural signals flickering between them millisecond by millisecond during difficult choices.
  • The study used direct electrical recordings from six patients with surgically implanted brain electrodes who played a video game with treasure chests and bombs, overcoming the difficulty of imaging the orbitofrontal cortex with standard neuroimaging methods.
  • The findings could help researchers understand psychiatric conditions involving abnormal risk-taking and avoidance, including anxiety, OCD, addiction, and gambling disorders.

“The OFC is the usual suspect for decision-making. But because it is right above the eye socket, and it sits on top of a big sheet of bone and above your sinuses and your eyes, it is difficult to analyse in brain-imaging studies.”

Clara Starkweather, Study co-author, neurosurgery resident at UCSF · Nature News ↗

Clara Starkweather Study co-author, neurosurgery resident at UCSFPablo Billeke Neurobiologist at University of Development, Santiago

Brain's risk-reward tug of war mapped in real time
nature.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 4:44 AM ET
  1. 1

    Nature publishes research overview of orbitofrontal cortex decision-making study

    Nature News published an overview article describing the study's methods and implications. Researchers used a video game with treasure chests and bombs to test approach-avoidance conflicts, with participants given six seconds to decide whether to enter or avoid corridors with varying risk-reward ratios.

    “This kind of research can isolate some brain mechanisms that are related to specific symptoms in some psychiatric conditions.”
    — Pablo Billeke
  2. background

    Study reveals neural tug of war in risk-reward decisions — Researchers published findings in Nature Neuroscience showing two neighbouring regions of the orbitofrontal cortex compete during decision-making. Using direct brain recordings from six participants with surgically implanted electrodes, the team found neurons in one area activated before reward-seeking choices while neurons in the other activated before risk-avoidance choices.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Take a risk or play it safe? Neuronal tug-of-war helps the brain decide

    first by Nature, 6d ago · also Nature News

and 1 smaller piece