{
  "id": 3104206,
  "title": "Criterion-selective neurons in the human medial frontal cortex track decision thresholds during memory-based decision making",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/criterion-selective-neurons-in-the-human-medial-frontal-cortex-track",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.19.745781v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Scientists have discovered that specific neurons in the human brain play a crucial role in decision-making processes. The decision criterion, which determines what is considered familiar, is represented by distinct neural activities in two key brain regions. In the medial frontal cortex (MFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL), researchers found neurons that track the decision criterion independently of memory strength, as well as neurons that track memory strength independently of the criterion. The neurons in the MFC responded to the decision criterion before the neurons in the MTL signaled memory strength. By incorporating both types of neurons into a model, researchers were able to more accurately predict decision-making behavior than models relying solely on one type of neuron. These findings suggest that separate neural mechanisms are responsible for representing decision criteria and memory strength, and that their combined activity is essential for successful memory-based decision making.",
  "summary": "The decision criterion is foundational to theories of decision-making, yet little is known about its neural underpinnings. In memory-based decision making, the criterion sets the minimal memory strength for something to be familiar, but whether or how it is distinctly represented from memory strength is unknown. We recorded single neurons in the medial frontal cortex (MFC) and medial temporal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}