A specific role for posterior dorsolateral striatum in human habit learning.
Habits are characterized by an insensitivity to their consequences and, as such, can be distinguished from goal-directed actions. The neural basis of the development of demonstrably outcome-insensitive habitual actions in humans has not been previously characterized. In this experiment, we show that extensive training on a free-operant task reduces the sensitivity of participants' behavior to a reduction in outcome value. Analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired during training revealed a significant increase in task-related cue sensitivity in a right posterior putamen-globus pallidus region as training progressed. These results provide evidence for a shift from goal-directed to habit-based control of instrumental actions in humans, and suggest that cue-driven activation in a specific region of dorsolateral posterior putamen may contribute to the habitual control of behavior in humans.
Tricomi
Elizabeth
E
Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. etricomi@psychology.rutgers.edu
Balleine
Bernard W
BW
O'Doherty
John P
JP
D000328:Adult; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult