We often face a crossroads, where we must choose between two alternatives – the well-paved road, which leads to dark rain clouds, or the more difficult path, which leads us home dry. In an ideal world, we could gather all the information before making a decision, but in reality, the moment to decide comes quickly and demands swift action. Planning, deciding, and acting merge into one. This ability of integrated decision-making and action is an important survival skill for primates and many other animals in ecologically relevant behaviors.
In the Sensorimotor group, we investigate the neural processes underlying goal-directed behavior. To evaluate available information and make a quick, targeted decision, various brain regions in the frontal and parietal lobes work closely together. Our focus is on the mechanisms of movement planning and decision-making in these areas of the primate cerebral cortex. Our neuroscience research is closely linked to the development of modern neuroprosthetics and neurotechnological procedures. At the same time, we continuously strive to improve experimental conditions for primates in neuroscience.
