The lure of the unknown.
Using event-related fMRI, Bunzeck and Düzel show that midbrain regions putatively housing dopamine cell bodies activate more for novel pictures than for negative pictures, pictures requiring a motor response, or repeated pictures. These findings indicate that midbrain regions preferentially respond to novelty and suggest that novelty can serve as its own reward.
Knutson
Brian
B
Department of Psychology, Stanford University.
Cooper
Jeffrey C
JC
D000818:Animals; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D012201:Reward