학술논문
Rare rewards amplify dopamine responses
Document Type
Report
Source
Nature Neuroscience. April 2021, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p465, 5 p.
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1097-6256
Abstract
Author(s): Kathryn M. Rothenhoefer [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] [sup.4] , Tao Hong [sup.2] [sup.3] [sup.4] [sup.5] , Aydin Alikaya [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] [sup.4] , William R. Stauffer [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] [sup.4] [...]
Dopamine prediction error responses are essential components of universal learning mechanisms. However, it is unknown whether individual dopamine neurons reflect the shape of reward distributions. Here, we used symmetrical distributions with differently weighted tails to investigate how the frequency of rewards and reward prediction errors influence dopamine signals. Rare rewards amplified dopamine responses, even when conventional prediction errors were identical, indicating a mechanism for learning the complexities of real-world incentives. Rare rewards amplify dopamine neuron responses, even when conventionally defined prediction errors are identical. This suggests that individual dopamine neurons are sensitive to predicted reward distributions and can facilitate the learning of complex incentive structures.
Dopamine prediction error responses are essential components of universal learning mechanisms. However, it is unknown whether individual dopamine neurons reflect the shape of reward distributions. Here, we used symmetrical distributions with differently weighted tails to investigate how the frequency of rewards and reward prediction errors influence dopamine signals. Rare rewards amplified dopamine responses, even when conventional prediction errors were identical, indicating a mechanism for learning the complexities of real-world incentives. Rare rewards amplify dopamine neuron responses, even when conventionally defined prediction errors are identical. This suggests that individual dopamine neurons are sensitive to predicted reward distributions and can facilitate the learning of complex incentive structures.