Table 2.

Relationship between task features and neurobiology implicated in different decision-making assays involving the assessment of effort^a

Task type	Type of effort taxed		Neurobiology implicated in risky choice
	Type of effort	Effortful challenge	NAc	BLA	ACC	mPFC	DA
T-maze	Physical	Complete one unique and effortful action (scale barrier)	↓	↓	↓	—	✓
Concurrent choice task	Physical	Complete more units of equally effortful response (lever press) versus none	↓	NA	—	—	✓
EDT	Physical	Complete more units of equally effortful response (lever press) versus less	↓	↓	—	—	✓
rCET	Cognitive	Accurately localize brief visual stimulus (attentionally demanding)	—b	↑↓	↓	↓

^a Symbols are used to indicate whether choice of the effortful option is increased (↑), decreased (↓), or unaffected (—) by inactivation or silencing of the NAc, BLA, ACC, or regions of the mPFC. The last column provides a rough indication of whether DA plays a strong role in mediating choice, based on the effects of acute or chronic pharmacological challenges with specific dopaminergic agents.

^b NAC inactivation completely abolished performance of the rCET task; therefore, it is impossible to conclude that a selective reduction in choice of the harder option is observed, although obviously such choice does decline.