Work

Mood as Representation of Momentum

Year: 2015

Type: review

Abstract: Experiences affect mood, which in turn affects subsequent experiences. Recent studies suggest two specific principles. First, mood depends on how recent reward outcomes differ from expectations. Second, mood biases the way we perceive outcomes (e.g., rewards), and this bias affects learning about those outcomes. We propose that this two-way interaction serves to mitigate inefficiencies in the application of reinforcement learning to real-world problems. Specifically, we propose that mood represents the overall momentum of recent outcomes, and its biasing influence on the perception of outcomes 'corrects' learning to account for environmental dependencies. We describe potential dysfunctions of this adaptive mechanism that might contribute to the symptoms of mood disorders.

Source: Trends in Cognitive Sciences

DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2015.07.010

Authors: Eran Eldar, Robb B. Rutledge, Raymond J. Dolan, Yael Niv

Institutions: Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,753

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Army Research Office