From learned value to sustained bias: how reward conditioning changes attentional priority

IntroductionAttentional bias to reward-associated stimuli can occur even when it interferes with goal-driven behavior. One theory posits that dopaminergic signaling in the striatum during reward conditioning leads to changes in visual cortical and parietal representations of the stimulus used, and this, in turn, sustains attentional bias even when reward is discontinued. However, only a few studies have examined neural activity during both rewarded and unrewarded task phases.MethodsIn the current study, participants first completed a reward-conditioning phase, during which responses to certain stimuli were associated with monetary reward. These stimuli were then included as non-predictive cues in a spatial cueing task. Participants underwent functional brain imaging during both task phases.ResultsThe results show that striatal activity during the learning phase predicted increased visual cortical and parietal activity and decreased ventro-medial prefrontal cortex activity in response to conditioned stimuli during the test. Striatal activity was also associated with anterior cingulate cortex activation when the reward-conditioned stimulus directed attention away from the target.DiscussionOur findings suggest that striatal activity during reward conditioning predicts the degree to which reward history biases attention through learning-induced changes in visual and parietal activities

From learned value to sustained bias: how reward conditioning changes attentional priority

Attentional bias to reward-associated stimuli can occur even when it interferes with goal-driven behavior. One theory posits that striatal activitydopaminergic siganaling in the striatum during reward conditioning leads to changes in visual cortical and parietal representations of the stimulus used; this in turn sustains attentional bias even when reward is discontinued. However, only a few studies have examined neural activity during both rewarded and unrewarded task phases. In the current study, participants first completed a reward-conditioned conditioning learning phase, during which responses to certain stimuli were associated with monetary reward. These stimuli were then included as non-predictive cues in a spatial cueing task. Participants underwent functional brain imaging during both task phases. Results show that striatal activity during the learning phase predicted increased visual cortical and parietal activity, and decreased ventro-medial prefrontal cortex activity, in response to conditioned stimuli at test. Striatal activity was also associated with anterior cingulate cortex activation when the reward-conditioned stimulus directed attention away from the target. Our findings Findings suggest that striatal activity during reward conditioning predicts the degree to which reward history biases attention through learning-induced changes in visual and parietal activity

Spectrum of Infection and Risk Factors for Human Monkeypox, United States, 2003

Infection is associated with proximity to virus-infected animals and their excretions and secretions

Juneteenth in STEMM and the barriers to equitable science

We are 52 Black scientists. Here, we establish the context of Juneteenth in STEMM and discuss the barriers Black scientists face, the struggles they endure, and the lack of recognition they receive. We review racism's history in science and provide institutional-level solutions to reduce the burdens on Black scientists