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Two spatiotemporally distinct value systems shape reward-based learning in the human brain

Fouragnan, Elsa; Retzler, Chris; Mullinger, Karen J.; Philiastides, Marios G.

Authors

Elsa Fouragnan

Chris Retzler

Marios G. Philiastides



Abstract

Avoiding repeated mistakes and learning to reinforce rewarding decisions is critical for human survival and adaptive actions. Yet, the neural underpinnings of the value systems that encode different decision-outcomes remain elusive. Here coupling single-trial electroencephalography with simultaneously acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging, we uncover the spatiotemporal dynamics of two separate but interacting value systems encoding decision-outcomes. Consistent with a role in regulating alertness and switching behaviours, an early system is activated only by negative outcomes and engages arousal-related and motor-preparatory brain structures. Consistent with a role in reward-based learning, a later system differentially suppresses or activates regions of the human reward network in response to negative and positive outcomes, respectively. Following negative outcomes, the early system interacts and downregulates the late system, through a thalamic interaction with the ventral striatum. Critically, the strength of this coupling predicts participants’ switching behaviour and avoidance learning, directly implicating the thalamostriatal pathway in reward-based learning.

Citation

Fouragnan, E., Retzler, C., Mullinger, K. J., & Philiastides, M. G. (2015). Two spatiotemporally distinct value systems shape reward-based learning in the human brain. Nature Communications, 6(8107), https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9107

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 8, 2015
Deposit Date Sep 30, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Nature Communications
Electronic ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Issue 8107
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms9107
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/761754
Publisher URL http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150907/ncomms9107/full/ncomms9107.html
Related Public URLs http://www.nature.com/ncomms/index.html

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