Programming of the goal-directed behavior and association systems of the brain.

The organism functions in surroundings which are organized according to probability and determine the development of the ability for probabilistic prognosis of goal-directed performance. Probabilistic programming of behavior is assumed to be based on dominant motivation, previous experience (genetic and ontogenetic), and the estimation of the current situation as stored in short-term memory. Association thalamocortical systems of the brain appear to possess basic structural-functional requisites to evaluate their role in the mechanisms of probabilistic prognosis. A hypothetical diagram is given to illustrate the functional structure of a goal-directed behavior based on the dominant mechanisms.