Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: UNLABELLED: Reward-related dopaminergic influences on learning and overt behaviour are well established, but any influence on sensory decision-making is largely unknown. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants judged electric somatosensory stimuli on one hand or other, before being rewarded for correct performance at trial end via a visual signal, at one of four anticipated financial levels. Prior to the procedure, participants received either placebo (saline), a dopamine agonist (levodopa), or an antagonist (haloperidol). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: higher anticipated reward improved tactile decisions. Visually signalled reward reactivated primary somatosensory cortex for the judged hand, more strongly for higher reward. After receiving a higher reward on one trial, somatosensory activations and decisions were enhanced on the next trial. These behavioural and neural effects were all enhanced by levodopa and attenuated by haloperidol, indicating dopaminergic dependency. Dopaminergic reward-related influences extend even to early somatosensory cortex and sensory decision-making.
Source: PLoS Biology
Institutions: Max Planck Society, Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University College London, University of Zurich, Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems Research, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Stiftung Charité, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, University of Freiburg
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,465
OpenAlex ID: W2015652930