Learning Reward Correlations in the Human Brain
Author Information
Author(s): Klaus Wunderlich, Mkael Symmonds, Peter Bossaerts, Raymond J. Dolan
Primary Institution: Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging, University College London
Hypothesis
How do humans learn the relationship between multiple rewards when making choices?
Conclusion
The study shows that the human brain represents higher-order correlation structures between rewards, allowing for optimized decision-making.
Supporting Evidence
- Subjects learned to track the correlation between two renewable energy sources.
- fMRI activity in the right midinsula correlated with the estimated correlation strength.
- A correlation prediction error signal was found in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex.
Takeaway
People can learn how different rewards are related to each other, which helps them make better choices.
Methodology
The study used fMRI to scan subjects while they performed a resource management game to learn about reward correlations.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to all types of decision-making scenarios outside the experimental task.
Participant Demographics
16 healthy subjects (7 female; ages 18-35) with no history of neurological or psychiatric illness.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website