Probabilistic classification learning with corrective feedback is associated with in vivo striatal dopamine release in the ventral striatum, while learning without feedback is not.
The basal ganglia (BG) mediate certain types of procedural learning, such as probabilistic classification learning on the 'weather prediction task' (WPT). Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), who have BG dysfunction, are impaired at WPT-learning, but it remains unclear what component of the WPT is important for learning to occur. We tested the hypothesis that learning through processing of corrective feedback is the essential component and is associated with release of striatal dopamine. We employed two WPT paradigms, either involving learning via processing of corrective feedback (FB) or in a paired associate manner (PA). To test the prediction that learning on the FB but not PA paradigm would be associated with dopamine release in the striatum, we used serial (11) C-raclopride (RAC) positron emission tomography (PET), to investigate striatal dopamine release during FB and PA WPT-learning in healthy individuals. Two groups, FB, (n = 7) and PA (n = 8), underwent RAC PET twice, once while performing the WPT and once during a control task. Based on a region-of-interest approach, striatal RAC-binding potentials reduced by 13-17% in the right ventral striatum when performing the FB compared to control task, indicating release of synaptic dopamine. In contrast, right ventral striatal RAC binding non-significantly increased by 9% during the PA task. While differences between the FB and PA versions of the WPT in effort and decision-making is also relevant, we conclude striatal dopamine is released during FB-based WPT-learning, implicating the striatum and its dopamine connections in mediating learning with FB.
Cognitive Motor Neuroscience Group, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Leonora
L
Wilkinson
Yen Foung
YF
Tai
Chia Shu
CS
Lin
David Albert
DA
Lagnado
David James
DJ
Brooks
Paola
P
Piccini
Marjan
M
Jahanshahi
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D030141:Feedback, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011337:Probability Learning; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D020891:Raclopride / Q000378:metabolism; D066328:Ventral Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*
D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D020891:Raclopride; D004298:Dopamine
11C-raclopride positron emission tomography; basal ganglia; non-motor skill learning; probabilistic learning; procedural learning; weather prediction task