Intrinsically regulated learning is modulated by synaptic dopamine signaling

We recently provided evidence that an intrinsic reward-related signal-triggered by successful learning in absence of any external feedback -modulated the entrance of new information into long-term memory via the activation of the dopaminergic midbrain, hippocampus, and ventral striatum (the SN/VTA-H...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ripollés, Pablo|||0000-0002-8463-3723, Ferreri, Laura, Mas-Herrero, Ernest|||0000-0002-3607-8489, Alicart, Helena, Gómez-Andrés, Alba, Marco-Pallarés, Josep|||0000-0001-9175-1480, Antonijoan Arbós, Rosa Ma (Rosa María)|||0000-0002-7099-5125, Noesselt, Toemme|||0000-0002-9611-9713, Valle, Marta|||0000-0002-3515-251X, Riba, Jordi|||0000-0002-9375-8421, Rodriguez-Fornells, Antoni|||0000-0002-3249-6931
Format: article
Publication Date:2018
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repository:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:253630
Online Access:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/253630
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.7554/eLife.38113
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Learning
Reward
Memory
Dopamine
Word learning
Language
Human
Description
Summary:We recently provided evidence that an intrinsic reward-related signal-triggered by successful learning in absence of any external feedback -modulated the entrance of new information into long-term memory via the activation of the dopaminergic midbrain, hippocampus, and ventral striatum (the SN/VTA-Hippocampal loop; Ripollés et al., 2016). Here, we used a double-blind, within-subject randomized pharmacological intervention to test whether this learning process is indeed dopamine-dependent. A group of healthy individuals completed three behavioral sessions of a language-learning task after the intake of different pharmacological treatments: a dopaminergic precursor, a dopamine receptor antagonist or a placebo. Results show that the pharmacological intervention modulated behavioral measures of both learning and pleasantness, inducing memory benefits after 24 hr only for those participants with a high sensitivity to reward. These results provide causal evidence for a dopamine-dependent mechanism instrumental in intrinsically regulated learning and further suggest that subject-specific reward sensitivity drastically alters learning success.

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