Neural mechanisms for foraging in an uncertain environment

Professor Rushworth's research is motivated by the idea that some aspects of human decision-making may best be understood using principles from animal foraging behaviour. To test this 'ecological' model, he will employ a range of novel tasks that seek to understand how humans identify what options are available in the environment and how their choices are guided by contextual factors (eg short- versus long-term goals). To understand which brain regions are involved in these processes, Professor Rushworth will combine computational modelling with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). He will also use transcranial magnetic stimulation to gain insight into how disrupting activity in parts of the decision-making network influences activity in other regions.