How do we compute and update the values of our decisions in various social contexts? To address this question, I propose a model delineating the functional differentiation and interaction of substructures within the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). According to this model, the ventral portion of the MPFC is responsible for intuitive value calculations triggered by signals of homeostatic imbalance arising from the body. When two or more conflicting values are simultaneously activated, it detects the conflict and engages the higher-level dorsal portion of the MPFC to compute more intricate values, incorporating additional information from the external environment. If the newly calculated value effectively resolves the conflict, it contributes to modifying the intuitive value stored in the ventral portion of the MPFC. This hierarchical model of the MPFC can be conceptualized as an allostatic regulatory function that constantly discovers and internalizes the most efficient rewards by utilizing the external environment to predict and prevent imbalances in bodily homeostasis at the earliest possible stage, effectively addressing the stability-plasticity dilemma. In this presentation, I will also introduce brain imaging studies providing evidence in support of this model across a spectrum of social behaviors, encompassing moral decision-making, prosocial behavior, impression management, impression formation, and social conformity.

첨부: 뇌과학세미나 포스터(2024-1)