What happens in the brain when a decision is correct?


Choose between 'yes' or 'no'. What drives us to decide? What are the mechanisms that the brain uses for it? Little is known about this issue that draws attention both to the researchers, who, over time, reveal increasingly complex tracks on this selection process. Now, a new study published in Neuron, reveals that when making good decisions increases activity in the hippocampus.

So far, the theory is that the prefrontal cortex plays an important role in the decision-making. "Years ago we study, in collaboration with British and American colleagues, patients with frontal lesions and we conclude that the prefrontal lobe (especially the right) was very involved in the correct decisions," said Juan Carlos Garcia- Moncó, President of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN).

Now, for the first time, a group of scientists from University College London discovered that the hippocampus (a brain area associated with memory) and its interaction with the prefrontal lobe are key to learning to make decisions.

"No wonder that the hippocampus is activated in these cognitive processes. Responsible for archiving instant information and this is very important when evaluating a situation (for example, a chess move) and make the following decision "argues José Antonio Portellano Pérez, Professor of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a specialist in neuropsychology.

Keep in mind, the expert says, that "when one makes a decision, integrating everything learned in the memory of both long and short term, which is distributed by different brain areas. Hence, the complexity of the process" .

The main author of this research, Dharshan Kumaran, says, "probably the hippocampus is responsible for creating and saving basics you then pass to the prefrontal cortex, where they are extracted and used as occasion requires., For example, in circumstances to choose either option could jeopardize our money. " Furthermore, the neural circuits involving the hippocampus are also responsible for the use of the basic concepts acquired in new situations.

The experts came to this conclusion after checking the brain function of 27 participants involved in the study. The main test that consisted underwent predict, through images displayed on the computer, the weather after observing the night sky.

Firstly, brain activity was assessed by a technique of imaging (positron emission tomography or PET), thereby determining which areas experiencing increased functional activity. In addition, we evaluated whether the estimate atmospheric by participants was correct or not. Finally, it was concluded that the right decisions, the hippocampus showed increased activity. The action of this part of the brain can make important decisions about what to do in different circumstances.

Unexplored areas
As well known mechanisms of language, not so with this cognitive process. "Participants explored areas and the level of complexity is such that they are not always the same areas responsible," says the Moncó Garcia, adding that more studies are needed to point in the same direction to draw definitive conclusions.

According to experts, these findings help decipher what brain structures involved in higher cognitive functions (language, memory, reasoning ...), and choose from several options. The only clinical implication is that qualifies the Scientific Committee Chairman of SEN, is that, "at the unit level, these results help to understand that a person with certain brain injuries may begin to have difficulties in decision-making. Help understand diseases like Alzheimer's. "