Abstract
The constant conflict between decisions leading to immediate pleasurable consequences versus behaviors aiming at long-term social advantages is reviewed here in the framework of the evolutionary systems regulating behavior. The inescapable temporal perspective in decision-making in everyday life is highlighted and integrated with the role of the executive functions in the modulation of subcortical systems. In particular, the representations of the 'non-existent' future in the prefrontal cortical regions and how these representations can bridge theory and practice in everyday life are addressed. Relevant discussions regarding the battle between emotions and reasons in the determination of more complex decisions in the realm of neuroeconomics and in moral issues have been reserved for a second essay.
Key words:
decision making; executive functions; impulse control; frontal lobes; reward.
Resumo
O conflito constante entre decisões que levam a conseqüências prazerosas imediatas versus comportamentos direcionados a vantagens sociais no médio e longo prazo é aqui revisado sob o prisma de sistemas neurobiológicos que evoluíram ao longo da escala filogenética para regular o comportamento. O artigo enfatiza a inescapável perspectiva temporal na tomada de decisões na vida cotidiana, integrando-a com o papel das funções executivas na modulação de sistemas subcorticais. Em particular, as representações no cortex préfrontal de um futuro que, em realidade,'não-existe' em termos concretos são conceptualizadas como a ligação entre a teoria e a prática nas questões do dia-a-dia. Discussões relevantes em relação à 'batalha' entre razão e emoção na determinação de decisões mais complexas nos campos da neuroeconomia e das questões morais foram reservadas para um segundo ensaio.
Palavras-chave:
tomada de decisões; funções executivas; controle de impulsos; lobos frontais; recompensa.
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Full text available only in PDF format.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Jan-Mar 2007