Executive control and decision-making in the prefrontal cortex

action sets thus comprise multiple stimulusaction and (stimulus)-action-outcome associations, which are learned and continuously adjusted online for maximizing rewards. Computational modeling suggest that stimulus-action and (stimulus)-action-outcome associations are learned and adjusted through reinforcement and statistical learning respectively [33 ,34], while abstract action sets emerge through probabilistic clustering processes [29]. Collectively, these flexible representations invoked together for driving action selection while the same external situation perpetuates, constitute a consistent behavioral strategy also referred to as a task set (Figure 1). Task sets and adaptive behavior Task sets are critical executive units for efficient adaptive behavior in everyday environments featuring external situations that often change and may reoccur periodically Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 2015, 1:101–106 102 Cognitive neuroscience