Neuromodulatory updating of prior beliefs, a mechanistic and cross-species perspective

Predictions inform almost all our decisions. For example, when choosing the bike over the bus, based on the predicted duration and weather conditions. But what happens when unexpected changes in the world render our predictions invalid? For example, nearby roadworks result in a longer-than-predicted trip duration. This research project uses a new and multidisciplinary approach to uncover the brain circuits that mediate the flexible updating of prior beliefs. This will lead to fundamental insights about consciousness and decision-making as well as applications in the realm of medical psychology.