How the Brain Uses Memories to Make a Survival Decision Mexicanist
go to original June 15, 2023

Researchers are trying to pin down the neural pathways that underpin choice. (Victoriano Izquierdo/Unsplash)

In terms of survival, it is essential to make effective, efficient decisions that lead us to obtain the reward and achieve the most beneficial goal according to a cost-benefit analysis, which is carried out relatively quickly.

To understand this brain process, Francisco Sotres Bayón, from the Institute of Cell Physiology (IFC) of the UNAM, together with his team of collaborators, are conducting research to explain "how the brain uses emotional memories to guide survival decisions."

While participating in the International Seminar on Neurosciences and Addictions, of the Cannabinoids Laboratory, of the Faculty of Medicine of the National University, he exemplified that when choosing between eating a hamburger or a pizza we take into account a series of variables: which one is fresher, of better quality, which one has more or fewer carbohydrates, fats or proteins, which one is healthier, which one is sold in the cleanest place, etcetera. Considering this number of elements could delay the decision-making process.

To do this quickly and efficiently, our brain evokes memories of previous experiences; for example, "we immediately remember that on one occasion the hamburger was bad for us, and we opted for pizza. In the lab, we study what happens in the brain when we make advantageous decisions that depend on evoking memories."

We focus on creating animal models where we evaluate decision-making guided by emotional memories: the example cited refers to those associated with flavors, but the research also uses environmental stimuli, such as sound or light, he said. Likewise, in the laboratory, they developed novel animal models to evaluate the active suppression of fear in rodents, in particular, that which involves crossing a dangerous area to obtain food.

This animal model, "which we recently validated using an anxiolytic commonly used in humans (Valium), is the first to directly assess immediate and active fear suppression," stressed the scientist. In addition, it has the potential to help us better understand how the brain makes decisions based on cost-benefit calculations in health and disease in humans.

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