title: Neural substrates of decision-making.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decision-making is the process of selecting a course of action from among 2 or more alternatives by considering the potential outcomes of selecting each option and estimating its consequences in the short, medium and long term. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has traditionally been considered the key neural structure in decision-making process. However, new studies support the hypothesis that describes a complex neural network including both cortical and subcortical structures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to summarise evidence on the anatomical structures underlying the decision-making process, considering new findings that support the existence of a complex neural network that gives rise to this complex neuropsychological process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current evidence shows that the cortical structures involved in decision-making include the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This process is assisted by subcortical structures including the amygdala, thalamus, and cerebellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings to date show that both cortical and subcortical brain regions contribute to the decision-making process. The neural basis of decision-making is a complex neural network of cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical connections which includes subareas of the PFC, limbic structures, and the cerebellum.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Central «Marta Abreu» de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba. Electronic address: yunierbp@uclv.edu.cu.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Broche-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Universidad Central «Marta Abreu» de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Herrera Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Omar-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Amygdala; Amígdala; Bases neurales; Cerebellum; Cerebelo; Corteza prefrontal; Decision making; Neural basis; Prefrontal cortex; Subcortical structures; Subcórtex; Toma de decisiones