193 research outputs found
Transcranial Direct Corrent stimulation (tDCS) of the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) modulates reinforcement learning and decision-making under uncertainty: A doubleblind crossover study
Reinforcement learning refers to the ability to acquire
information from the outcomes of prior choices (i.e.
positive and negative) in order to make predictions on the
effect of future decision and adapt the behaviour basing on
past experiences. The anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) is considered
to play a key role in the representation of event value,
reinforcement learning and decision-making. However, a
causal evidence of the involvement of this area in these processes
has not been provided yet. The aim of the study was to
test the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in feedback processing,
reinforcement learning and decision-making under uncertainly.
Eighteen healthy individuals underwent three sessions of
tDCS over the prefrontal pole (anodal, cathodal, sham) during
a probabilistic learning (PL) task. In the PL task, participants
were invited to learn the covert probabilistic stimulusoutcome
association from positive and negative feedbacks in
order to choose the best option. Afterwards, a probabilistic
selection (PS) task was delivered to assess decisions based
on the stimulus-reward associations acquired in the PL task.
During cathodal tDCS, accuracy in the PL task was reduced
and participants were less prone to maintain their choice after
positive feedback or to change it after a negative one (i.e., winstay
and lose-shift behavior). In addition, anodal tDCS affected
the subsequent PS task by reducing the ability to choose the
best alternative during hard probabilistic decisions. In conclusion,
the present study suggests a causal role of aPFC in feedback
trial-by-trial behavioral adaptation and decision-making
under uncertainty
Come aiutare le pazienti a prevenire le neoplasie ormonosensibili migliorando lo stile di vita?
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