# Neuroscience research on decision-making and brain activity > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/neuroscience-research-on-decision-making-and-brain-activity > Updated: 2026-09-18T06:20:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Neuroscience research has focused on the distinction between intuitive and conscious decision-making processes. Initial insights highlighted how routine or rapid actions are often driven by energy-efficient brain regions like the basal ganglia, whereas novel situations require higher cognitive effort. Subsequent studies have expanded into specific neurological mechanics. One investigation at the University of Virginia School of Medicine utilized EEG monitoring to study out-of-body experiences (OBEs), testing whether these states allow for the perception of information from inaccessible locations. Additionally, research published in Nature Neuroscience used intracranial electrodes to monitor the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). This study observed how different areas within the OFC activate in opposition during the process of choosing between rewards and risks, providing data on the neurological oscillations between hesitation and decision-making. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: Neuroscience research explores brain activity in OBEs and decision-making Neuroscience studies are exploring the brain's role in out-of-body experiences and the electrical signals in the orbitofrontal cortex that drive risk-versus-reward decision-making. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/neuroscience-research-explores-brain-activity-in-obes-and-decision-making ### 2026-09-05: Neuroscience insights into the mechanics of human decision-making Neuroscientist Martin Korte discusses how intuition and brain regions like the basal ganglia facilitate rapid, routine decisions, versus the cognitive effort required for novel, complex choices. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/neuroscience-insights-into-the-mechanics-of-human-decision-making --- Cite as: Neuroscience research on decision-making and brain activity. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/neuroscience-research-on-decision-making-and-brain-activity