UCLA Department of Psychology
Izquierdo Lab
The neural basis of flexible learning and value-based decision making
The lab
Our lab studies the brain mechanisms of flexible reward learning and value-based decisions (i.e. decisions involving effort, delay, and risk), with a focus on the contributions of frontocortical circuits. We also investigate risk and resilience to the neural and behavioral adaptations following chronic intravenous drug self-administration and voluntary alcohol experience. Another major goal of the lab is to contribute novel paradigms that readily translate across model systems. We use a variety of approaches to study these questions (see Techniques).

Lab news
All newsAugust 2026
Welcome to the lab, Dr. André de Sousa, incoming Assistant Project Scientist!
May 2026
Congratulations to Dr. Juan Luis Romero Sosa for final defense of his Ph.D.!
April 2026
Congrats to Megan Cervera, who was “Selected by the UCLA College of Letters and Science and the Department of Psychology to receive the prestigious Edwin W. Pauley Award… as an indication of excellence as a developing scholar.”
April 2026
Welcome to the lab Megan Cervera, incoming BNS Ph.D. student!
Get in touch
Interested in receiving more information about the lab? Contact Prof. Alicia Izquierdo at profizquierdobns@gmail.com
Join Alicia and members of the Izquierdo lab on Bluesky social: Alicia on Bluesky