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The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Coutlee, CG; Huettel, SA
Published in: Brain research
January 2012

Humans exhibit a remarkable capacity for flexible thought and action. Despite changing internal needs and external context, individuals maintain stable goals and pursue purposeful action. Functional neuroimaging research examining the neural underpinnings of such behavioral flexibility has progressed within several distinct traditions, as evident in the largely separate literatures on "cognitive control" and on "decision making." Both topics investigate the formulation of desires and intentions, the integration of knowledge and context, and the resolution of conflict and uncertainty. Additionally, each recognizes the fundamental role of the prefrontal cortex in supporting flexible selection of behavior. But despite this notable overlap, neuroimaging studies in cognitive control and decision making have exerted only limited influence on each other, in part due to differences in their theoretical and experimental groundings. Additionally, the precise organization of control processing within prefrontal cortex has remained unclear, fostering an acceptance of vague descriptions of decision making in terms of canonical cognitive control functions such as "inhibition" or "self-control." We suggest a unifying role for models of the hierarchical organization of action selection within prefrontal cortex. These models provide an important conceptual link between decision-making phenomena and cognitive-control processes, potentially facilitating cross-fertilization between these topics.

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Published In

Brain research

DOI

EISSN

1872-6240

ISSN

0006-8993

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

1428

Start / End Page

3 / 12

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinking
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Humans
  • Decision Making
  • Cognition
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Coutlee, C. G., & Huettel, S. A. (2012). The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action. Brain Research, 1428, 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2011.05.053
Coutlee, Christopher G., and Scott A. Huettel. “The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action.Brain Research 1428 (January 2012): 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2011.05.053.
Coutlee CG, Huettel SA. The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action. Brain research. 2012 Jan;1428:3–12.
Coutlee, Christopher G., and Scott A. Huettel. “The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action.Brain Research, vol. 1428, Jan. 2012, pp. 3–12. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2011.05.053.
Coutlee CG, Huettel SA. The functional neuroanatomy of decision making: prefrontal control of thought and action. Brain research. 2012 Jan;1428:3–12.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain research

DOI

EISSN

1872-6240

ISSN

0006-8993

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

1428

Start / End Page

3 / 12

Related Subject Headings

  • Thinking
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Humans
  • Decision Making
  • Cognition
  • 5202 Biological psychology
  • 3209 Neurosciences