The shape of things to come: Shifting rewards are encoded using special neuronal patterns

(University of Tsukuba) Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have found that that during the processing of rewards that change in value over time, dopamine neurons exhibit a pattern of neuronal activity that is distinct from previously established neuronal firing related to reward prediction. This work opens the door for future research regarding the way in which rewards are processed, and more broadly, the way that dopamine neurons process information in real-time.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news