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-Hi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ripollés, Pablo, Ferreri, Laura, Mas-Herrero, Ernest, Alicart, Helena, Gómez Andrés, Alba, Marco Pallarés, Josep, Antonijoan Arbós, Rosa Ma. (Rosa María), Noesselt, Toemme, Valle, Marta, Riba, Jordi, Rodríguez Fornells, Antoni
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/147922
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/147922
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aprenentatge
Fisiologia
Neurotransmissió
Transducció de senyal cel·lular
Learning
Physiology
Neural transmission
Cellular signal transduction
Descripción
Sumario: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.