Events
Beatrice H. Barrett Lectures on Brain and Behavior: Paradigm Fusion
The Barrett Initiative works to disseminate information within the behavior analysis community, the neuroscience community, and the scientific community at large that advances the understanding of the connections between operant behavior and neural activity. In addition to publications, the Barrett Initiative hosts a range of virtual and live events featuring researchers from neuroscience, behavior analysis, and complementary disciplines. You can also find us annually at conferences of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA), and other regional, national, and international organizations.
Please Join Us! Fall 2026: Dr. Wolfram Schultz
Two live Zoom lectures · October 16 and October 23, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central Time
Wolfram Schultz
Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
Wolfram Schultz graduated in medicine from the University of Heidelberg and obtained his PhD in physiology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He is Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, UK.
His laboratory combines behavioural, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging techniques to investigate the neural mechanisms of learning, goal-directed behaviour, and economic decision making. Using concepts from animal learning theory and economic decision theory, his group studies reward and risk signals in the dopamine system, striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and other brain regions. The work focuses on fundamental reward and decision variables including reward prediction errors, subjective reward value, utility, probability, risk, and object-action-chosen value.
Check out Dr. Schultz’s publications and website!
In this lecture series, Dr. Schultz will deliver two related talks that will build on one another. Make sure to register for both talks!
Click here: From reward functions to the dopamine reward signal
Click here: Neuroeconomics of decision-making
October 16, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central Time · Zoom — From reward functions to the dopamine reward signal
From reward functions to the dopamine reward signal
Friday, October 16, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central Time · Live on Zoom
Rewards are events, stimuli and objects that determine individual survival and evolutionary fitness. Rewards induce learning (positive reinforcement), approach behaviour, economic choice and emotions (pleasure, desire). We use behavioral tools derived from animal learning theory (reinforcement learning) and economic decision theory (Expected Utility Theory, Revealed Preference Theory) to investigate the neuronal responses of individual neurons to reward in specific brain structures of rhesus monkeys. Dopamine neurons in the ventral midbrain carry a reward prediction error signal, the difference between an obtained reward and its prediction. Slower components of the same neurons signal movement and general behavioral activation. These neurophysiological mechanisms represent physical implementations of basic constructs of reinforcement learning.
Click here to register!
ACE CEU credits provided by the University of North Texas
October 23, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central Time · Zoom — Neuroeconomics of decision-making
Neuroeconomics of decision-making
Friday, October 23, 2026 · 4:00 p.m. Central Time · Live on Zoom
The talk will describe the properties of neurons in the brain’s reward systems and how their activity contributes to economic decision-making. Each of several reward systems, including the dopamine neurons, striatum, amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex, play a unique role in these processes. We use behavioural tools derived from animal learning theory and machine learning (reinforcement learning) and economic decision theory (Expected Utility Theory, Revealed Preference Theory). Besides our investigation of dopamine neurons described in the first talk, we found that neurons in orbitofrontal cortex code the integrated or distinct values of multi-component rewards. These neurophysiological mechanisms represent the physical implementation of theoretical constructs such as reward value (utility), preference, probability and risk. They inform and validate theories of economic decision-making.
Click here to register!
ACE CEU credits provided by the University of North Texas