Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered that the lateral habenula - one of the smallest parts of the brain – may play a crucial role in making cost-benefit decisions, Fox News reports.  Previous research has linked this brain region to depression and avoidance behaviors. These findings clarify that the scientific community has misunderstood the true functioning of this mysterious, but important, region of the brain.

For the study, researchers prompted lab rats to choose between a small reward – one food pellet - and a potentially larger reward of four food pellets.

The researchers found that rats chose the larger reward like humans typically do.

The scientists then studied the rats after inactivating their lateral habenula – which ultimately caused the rodents to choose either option at random.