Prioritizing Needs and Opportunities

The brain constantly compares the individual's internal state of needs with external opportunities. Deviations from where one needs to be generate error signals, prompting a prioritization process by the brain. For instance, when hungry and thirsty, the brain assesses the opportunities to satisfy each need, such as choosing to eat an apple over drinking water depending on the availability. The periacriductal grey in the brain receives these error signals and determines which needs to prioritize based on current opportunities, as it is essential to prioritize actions when faced with multiple needs.