Final answer:
The prefrontal cortex and amygdala are the cortical brain regions where activity increases and decreases with value. The prefrontal cortex is involved in cognitive functioning and executive functions, while the amygdala deals with the emotional significance of events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In relation to which cortical brain regions does activity increase and decrease with value, the correct answer would be prefrontal cortex and amygdala. The prefrontal cortex is part of the frontal lobe and is responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning, such as working memory, decision-making, and executive functions that lead to goal-directed behaviors. Conversely, the amygdala is involved in emotional processes and is implicated in value assessment, notably in the emotional significance of events, and it can modulate activity in other brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, these two regions show changes in activity related to the perceived value of different stimuli or decisions.
The frontal lobe contains the motor cortex and is important for planning and movement, as well as cognitive functions like attention and decision-making. The occipital lobe is primarily engaged in visual processing. The temporal lobe is involved in processing sounds and contains the hippocampus important for memory formation. The parietal lobe processes somatosensation and proprioception. However, these regions are not directly tied to the question about activity changes related to value.