The role of estrogen and progesterone in reinforcement learning and impulsive choice: evidence from behavioral and neuroimaging research

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. A12.6
Author(s):  
Luise Reimers
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Impulsive Choice

scholarly journals Shared mechanisms of auditory and non-auditory vocal learning in the songbird brain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James McGregor ◽  
Abigail Grassler ◽  
Paul I. Jaffe ◽  
Amanda Louise Jacob ◽  
Michael Brainard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
General Principle ◽  
Auditory Feedback ◽  
Sensory Feedback ◽  
Vocal Learning ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Auditory Information ◽  
Vocal Plasticity

Songbirds and humans share the ability to adaptively modify their vocalizations based on sensory feedback. Prior studies have focused primarily on the role that auditory feedback plays in shaping vocal output throughout life. In contrast, it is unclear whether and how non-auditory information drives vocal plasticity. Here, we first used a reinforcement learning paradigm to establish that non-auditory feedback can drive vocal learning in adult songbirds. We then assessed the role of a songbird basal ganglia-thalamocortical pathway critical to auditory vocal learning in this novel form of vocal plasticity. We found that both this circuit and its dopaminergic inputs are necessary for non-auditory vocal learning, demonstrating that this pathway is not specialized exclusively for auditory-driven vocal learning. The ability of this circuit to use both auditory and non-auditory information to guide vocal learning may reflect a general principle for the neural systems that support vocal plasticity across species.

scholarly journals Switching Competitors Reduces Win-Stay but Not Lose-Shift Behaviour: The Role of Outcome-Action Association Strength on Reinforcement Learning

Games ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Vincent Srihaput ◽  
Kaylee Craplewe ◽  
Benjamin James Dyson
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Learning Principles ◽  
Zero Sum ◽  
Quality Decision ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Predictability is a hallmark of poor-quality decision-making during competition. One source of predictability is the strong association between current outcome and future action, as dictated by the reinforcement learning principles of win–stay and lose–shift. We tested the idea that predictability could be reduced during competition by weakening the associations between outcome and action. To do this, participants completed a competitive zero-sum game in which the opponent from the current trial was either replayed (opponent repeat) thereby strengthening the association, or, replaced (opponent change) by a different competitor thereby weakening the association. We observed that win–stay behavior was reduced during opponent change trials but lose–shiftbehavior remained reliably predictable. Consistent with the group data, the number of individuals who exhibited predictable behavior following wins decreased for opponent change relative to opponent repeat trials. Our data show that future actions are more under internal control following positive relative to negative outcomes, and that externally breaking the bonds between outcome and action via opponent association also allows us to become less prone to exploitation.

scholarly journals The role of dopamine in reward-related behavior: shining new light on an old debate

2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-311
Author(s):  
Allan R. Wang ◽  
Alexa Groome ◽  
Lara Taniguchi ◽  
Neir Eshel ◽  
Brandon S. Bentzley
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Incentive Salience ◽  
Ventral Tegmental ◽  
Dopamine Signaling

The role dopamine plays in reward-related behaviors has been debated for decades. Heymann et al. (Heymann G, Jo YS, Reichard KL, McFarland N, Chavkin C, Palmiter RD, Soden ME, Zweifel LS. Neuron 105: 909–920, 2020) identify subpopulations of dopamine-producing neurons that separately mediate reward association and motivation. Their results help demonstrate that dopamine signaling may partake in both reinforcement learning and incentive salience functions, instantiated by neuropeptide-defined subpopulations of the ventral tegmental area with different projection targets.

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