Cited by 661Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesAdvanced MRI Techniques and Applications

BOLD responses reflecting dopaminergic signals in the human ventral tegmental area

D'Ardenne, Kimberlee, McClure, Samuel M., Nystrom, Leigh E., Cohen, Jonathan D.·2008·Science

Abstract

Current theories hypothesize that dopamine neuronal firing encodes reward prediction errors. Although studies in nonhuman species provide direct support for this theory, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in humans have focused on brain areas targeted by dopamine neurons [ventral striatum (VStr)] rather than on brainstem dopaminergic nuclei [ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra]. We used fMRI tailored to directly image the brainstem. When primary rewards were used in an experiment, the VTA blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) response reflected a positive reward prediction error, whereas the VStr encoded positive and negative reward prediction errors. When monetary gains and losses were used, VTA BOLD responses reflected positive reward prediction errors modulated by the probability of winning. We detected no significant VTA BOLD response to nonrewarding events.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1150605

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42 of 42 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The signed prediction error indicates whether an outcome is better or worse than expected and plays a crucial role in changing the value allocated to cues, thereby guiding future decisions.

    “First, the signed prediction error indicates whether an outcome is better or worse than expected, and thereby plays a crucial role in changing the value allocated to cues, thereby guiding future decisions [14–21].”
  • This approach has been used to identify links between activity in neuromodulatory nuclei and computational trajectories, such as precision-weighted prediction errors or uncertainty.

    “This approach has been used, for example, to identify links between activity in neuromodulatory nuclei and computational trajectories, such as (precision-weighted) prediction errors or uncertainty (111, 115–117).”
  • The human SN/VTA is activated by rewards.

    “Such studies (e.g. [48, 51]) have demonstrated that the human SN/VTA is activated by rewards, a finding confirmed by a recent study using electrophysiological recordings [52].”

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Authors
D'Ardenne, K., McClure, S. M., Nystrom, L. E., & Cohen, J. D.
Affiliations
  • Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Venue
Science
Published
2008-02-29
Volume
319
Issue
5867
Pages
1264-1267
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W1994728257
Cited by
661
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 43 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 54
FWCI
22.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (F32MH072141, P50MH062196, T32MH065214)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced MRI Techniques and Applications
Keywords
ventral tegmental area, dopamine, reward prediction error, BOLD signal, brainstem, ventral striatum, monetary rewards, winning probability, dopaminergic signaling
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Basal Ganglia, Conditioning, Classical, Cues, Dopamine, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mental Processes, Oxygen, Probability, Reinforcement, Psychology, Reward, Ventral Tegmental Area

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