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Dissociating neural learning signals in human sign- and goal-trackers

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel J. Schad

    (University of Potsdam
    Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Michael A. Rapp

    (University of Potsdam)

  • Maria Garbusow

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Stephan Nebe

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    University of Zurich)

  • Miriam Sebold

    (University of Potsdam
    Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Elisabeth Obst

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Christian Sommer

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Lorenz Deserno

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
    University College London
    Max Planck University College London)

  • Milena Rabovsky

    (University of Potsdam)

  • Eva Friedel

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin
    Berlin Institute of Health)

  • Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Hans-Ulrich Wittchen

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Ludwig-Maximalians-Universität)

  • Ulrich S. Zimmermann

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    kbo-Isar-Amper-Klinikum)

  • Henrik Walter

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Philipp Sterzer

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Michael N. Smolka

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Florian Schlagenhauf

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin
    Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)

  • Andreas Heinz

    (Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin)

  • Peter Dayan

    (University College London
    Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics)

  • Quentin J. M. Huys

    (University of Zürich
    University of Zürich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
    Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust)

Abstract

Individuals differ in how they learn from experience. In Pavlovian conditioning models, where cues predict reinforcer delivery at a different goal location, some animals—called sign-trackers—come to approach the cue, whereas others, called goal-trackers, approach the goal. In sign-trackers, model-free phasic dopaminergic reward-prediction errors underlie learning, which renders stimuli ‘wanted’. Goal-trackers do not rely on dopamine for learning and are thought to use model-based learning. We demonstrate this double dissociation in 129 male humans using eye-tracking, pupillometry and functional magnetic resonance imaging informed by computational models of sign- and goal-tracking. We show that sign-trackers exhibit a neural reward prediction error signal that is not detectable in goal-trackers. Model-free value only guides gaze and pupil dilation in sign-trackers. Goal-trackers instead exhibit a stronger model-based neural state prediction error signal. This model-based construct determines gaze and pupil dilation more in goal-trackers.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel J. Schad & Michael A. Rapp & Maria Garbusow & Stephan Nebe & Miriam Sebold & Elisabeth Obst & Christian Sommer & Lorenz Deserno & Milena Rabovsky & Eva Friedel & Nina Romanczuk-Seiferth & Hans-, 2020. "Dissociating neural learning signals in human sign- and goal-trackers," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(2), pages 201-214, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1038_s41562-019-0765-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0765-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Eva R. Pool & Wolfgang M. Pauli & Logan Cross & John P. O’Doherty, 2023. "Neural substrates of parallel devaluation-sensitive and devaluation-insensitive Pavlovian learning in humans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.

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