title: Serotonin and the evaluation of future rewards: theory, experiments, and possible neural mechanisms.
abstract: The ability to select an action by considering both delays and amount of reward outcome is critical for survival and well-being of animals and humans. Previous animal experiments suggest a role of serotonin in action choice by modulating the evaluation of delayed rewards. It remains unclear, however, through which neural circuits, and through what receptors and intracellular mechanisms, serotonin affects the evaluation of delayed rewards. Here, we review experimental studies and computational theory of decisions under delayed rewards, and propose that serotonin controls the timescale of reward prediction by regulating neural activity in the basal ganglia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA. schweigh@usc.edu
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schweighofer
authors.forename: Saori C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007858:Learning; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors