A dopaminergic reward prediction error signal shapes maternal behavior in mice.
Neuron
; 111(4): 557-570.e7, 2023 02 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36543170
How social contact is perceived as rewarding and subsequently modifies interactions is unclear. Dopamine (DA) from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) regulates sociality, but the ongoing, unstructured nature of free behavior makes it difficult to ascertain how. Here, we tracked the emergence of a repetitive stereotyped parental retrieval behavior and conclude that VTA DA neurons incrementally refine it by reinforcement learning (RL). Trial-by-trial performance was correlated with the history of DA neuron activity, but DA signals were inconsistent with VTA directly influencing the current trial. We manipulated the subject's expectation of imminent pup contact and show that DA signals convey reward prediction error, a fundamental component of RL. Finally, closed-loop optogenetic inactivation of DA neurons at the onset of pup contact dramatically slowed emergence of parental care. We conclude that this component of maternal behavior is shaped by an RL mechanism in which social contact itself is the primary reward.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Recompensa
/
Dopamina
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neuron
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
China