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SUMMARY:The economic utility signal of dopamine neurons - Dr Wolfram Schul
 z\, Department of Physiology\, Development and Neuroscience\, BCNI\, Cambr
 idge
DTSTART:20160225T153000Z
DTEND:20160225T163000Z
UID:TALK63614@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Deborah McSkimming
DESCRIPTION:\nRewards induce learning (positive reinforcement)\, approach 
 behaviour\, economic decisions and positive emotions (pleasure\, desire). 
 We investigate basic neuronal reward signals during learning and decision-
 making\, using behavioural and neurophysiological methods. \n\nThe phasic 
 dopamine reward prediction error signal is composed of two components\, re
 sembling two-component responses in main sensory neurons. The early dopami
 ne response component detects events indiscriminately and is influenced by
  physical impact\, novelty\, reward generalisation and reward context. The
  second component codes reward value. Although the first component detects
  punishers by their physical impact\, none of the components shows an acti
 vation that reflects the aversive nature of punishers.\n\nOur behavioural 
 studies reveal that monkeys are risk seeking with small rewards and risk n
 eutral and then risk avoiders with larger rewards. The animals' choices ar
 e meaningful in satisfying first\, second and third order stochastic domin
 ance\, which defines rational choices governed by value\, symmetric (varia
 nce) risk and skewness risk\, respectively. The forms of the behavioural u
 tility function allow us to assess the relationship of dopamine prediction
  error responses to economic utility. Indeed\, the dopamine responses sati
 sfy first- and second-order stochastic dominance and code utility. These d
 ata unite concepts from animal learning theory and economic decision theor
 y at the level of single reward neurons.\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre\, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit\, Chaucer
  Road
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