Okihide Hikosaka is a neuroscience research professor who specializes in the mechanisms of motivation, learning, skill, decision-making, attention, and oculomotor control.

His research into neuronal mechanisms of voluntary behavior and basal ganglia function created breakthroughs in the understanding of the neurochemistry behind information-seeking behavior[1] and the efficacy of grouping motor sequence learning actions[2] (otherwise known as “chunking”) in order to remember more than individual actions.

Hikosaka’s research proved that the brain is chemically wired to be rewarded with dopamine for learning information about the future.

“This result supports the notion that midbrain dopamine neurons are coding for both primitive and cognitive rewards.

Furthermore, having access to such information might give us better control over our environment, thus increasing our chances of survival.”[3] Hikosaka's research impacts the understanding of drug abuse, Parkinson’s and many other aspects of behavior and brain function and dysfunction.