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 …

Humans constantly learn in the absence of explicit rewards. However, the neurobiological
mechanisms supporting this type of internally-guided learning (without explicit feedback) are …

Most reinforcement learning models assume that the reward signal arrives after the activity
that led to the reward, placing constraints on the possible underlying cellular mechanisms …

Memory helps guide behavior, but which experiences from the past are prioritized? Classic
models of learning posit that events associated with unpredictable outcomes as well as …

People find it easier to learn about topics that interest them, but little is known about the
mechanisms by which intrinsic motivational states affect learning. We used functional …

To make good decisions, humans need to learn about and integrate different sources of
appetitive and aversive information. While serotonin has been linked to value-based …

Recent functional imaging studies link reward-related activation of the midbrain substantia
nigra–ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA), the site of origin of ascending dopaminergic …

Dopamine release during reward-driven behaviors influences synaptic plasticity. However,
dopamine innervation and release in the hippocampus and its role during aversive …

Optimal decision-making employs short-term rewards and abstract long-term information
based on which of these is deemed relevant. Employing short-vs. long-term information is …

Avoiding repeated mistakes and learning to reinforce rewarding decisions is critical for
human survival and adaptive actions. Yet, the neural underpinnings of the value systems …