Wanting this, not that: The neural circuit that turns specific expectations into actions

Article excerpt

by Joey A. Charbonneau, Erin L. Rich Neuroeconomics has long focused on reward values, ignoring their identity. A new PLOS Biology study shows that identity-specific reward expectations in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex steer goal-directed choices through a motivational circuit involving the nucleus accumbens. Neuroeconomics has long focused on reward values, ignoring their identity. This Primer explores a new study in PLOS Biology that shows that identity-specific reward expectations in lateral orbitofrontal cortex steer goal-directed choices through a motivational circuit involving nucleus accumbens.