Figure 5. Neuronal populations and shunting executive functions.

(A) Populations i, j, and k (in different colors) exhibit partial overlap. In other words, they share neuronal “real estate.” (B) Top: At any given time (Time 1), a certain population is activated in the service of carrying out an executive function. Bottom: When behavioral and motivational needs change (Time 2), processing is reconfigured such that a new population is dominant. The reconfiguration between t₁ and t₂ is here described as “shunting” and suggested to be an important component of motivational processing.