Core Findings - A recent study from Spain reveals that the brain can make decisions not only based on direct stimuli but also through indirect associations such as smells, which may aid in developing treatments for mental disorders like PTSD [1][2] Group 1: Research Methodology - Researchers trained mice to associate banana scent with sweetness and almond scent with saltiness, then introduced a negative stimulus linked to the banana scent, leading the mice to reject the sweet taste associated with the banana scent due to negative connotations [1] - The study identified brain regions activated during the formation of these associations, particularly the amygdala, which is linked to fear and anxiety responses and is also associated with PTSD [1] Group 2: Implications for Human Treatment - The neural circuits involved in decision-making in the human brain are believed to be similar to those in mice, suggesting that understanding these complex cognitive processes could inform the design of therapies for mental disorders [2] - Future treatments may involve stimulating or modulating specific brain regions to help patients with mental disorders [2]