title: Updating dopamine reward signals.
abstract: Recent work has advanced our knowledge of phasic dopamine reward prediction error signals. The error signal is bidirectional, reflects well the higher order prediction error described by temporal difference learning models, is compatible with model-free and model-based reinforcement learning, reports the subjective rather than physical reward value during temporal discounting and reflects subjective stimulus perception rather than physical stimulus aspects. Dopamine activations are primarily driven by reward, and to some extent risk, whereas punishment and salience have only limited activating effects when appropriate controls are respected. The signal is homogeneous in terms of time course but heterogeneous in many other aspects. It is essential for synaptic plasticity and a range of behavioural learning situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK. ws234@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012201:Reward; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine