Talk Title: How memory guides decisions and actions

Abstract: Most of what we learn comes from our experiences in the world. But how does our brain store these experiences, and how do they affect our actions? A common answer is that the brain has different systems for learning and remembering things. One system, linked to the striatum and dopamine, helps us make decisions based on what we've learned through trial and error. But sometimes, we need to think and reason in a more flexible way, using logic or imagination to generalize and make inferences. Recent research shows that the hippocampus, usually connected to remembering events, also helps us construct value and consider options, especially when things are uncertain. This new understanding shows that memory plays a big role in decision-making, even in situations that don’t appear, at first glance, to depend on memory at all. Uncovering the pervasive role of memory in decision making challenges how we think about memory, suggesting that memory’s primary purpose may be to guide future behavior and that storing a record of the past is just one way to do so.

Bio: Daphna Shohamy, PhD is a professor at Columbia University where she is Director and CEO of the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and Co-Director of the Kavli Center for Neural Sciences. Dr. Shohamy’s research focuses on the link between learning, memory and decision-making. Combining brain imaging in healthy humans with studies of patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders, Dr. Shohamy seeks to understand how the brain transforms experiences into memories, how memories shape decisions and actions, and how motivation and exploration affect human behavior.

Webinar Link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/98793241968

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Followed by a reception with food and drink in 3^rd floor atrium