Dissociable systems for gain- and loss-related value predictions and errors of prediction in the human brain

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dissociable systems for gain- and loss-related value predictions and errors of prediction in the human brain

AU - Yacubian, Juliana

AU - Gläscher, Jan

AU - Schroeder, Katrin

AU - Sommer-Blöchl, Tobias

AU - Braus, Dieter F

AU - Büchel, Christian

PY - 2006/9/13

Y1 - 2006/9/13

N2 - Midbrain dopaminergic neurons projecting to the ventral striatum code for reward magnitude and probability during reward anticipation and then indicate the difference between actual and predicted outcome. It has been questioned whether such a common system for the prediction and evaluation of reward exists in humans. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a guessing task in two large cohorts, we are able to confirm ventral striatal responses coding both reward probability and magnitude during anticipation, permitting the local computation of expected value (EV). However, the ventral striatum only represented the gain-related part of EV (EV+). At reward delivery, the same area shows a reward probability and magnitude-dependent prediction error signal, best modeled as the difference between actual outcome and EV+. In contrast, loss-related expected value (EV-) and the associated prediction error was represented in the amygdala. Thus, the ventral striatum and the amygdala distinctively process the value of a prediction and subsequently compute a prediction error for gains and losses, respectively. Therefore, a homeostatic balance of both systems might be important for generating adequate expectations under uncertainty. Prevalence of either part might render expectations more positive or negative, which could contribute to the pathophysiology of mood disorders like major depression.

AB - Midbrain dopaminergic neurons projecting to the ventral striatum code for reward magnitude and probability during reward anticipation and then indicate the difference between actual and predicted outcome. It has been questioned whether such a common system for the prediction and evaluation of reward exists in humans. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and a guessing task in two large cohorts, we are able to confirm ventral striatal responses coding both reward probability and magnitude during anticipation, permitting the local computation of expected value (EV). However, the ventral striatum only represented the gain-related part of EV (EV+). At reward delivery, the same area shows a reward probability and magnitude-dependent prediction error signal, best modeled as the difference between actual outcome and EV+. In contrast, loss-related expected value (EV-) and the associated prediction error was represented in the amygdala. Thus, the ventral striatum and the amygdala distinctively process the value of a prediction and subsequently compute a prediction error for gains and losses, respectively. Therefore, a homeostatic balance of both systems might be important for generating adequate expectations under uncertainty. Prevalence of either part might render expectations more positive or negative, which could contribute to the pathophysiology of mood disorders like major depression.

KW - Adult

KW - Amygdala

KW - Basal Ganglia

KW - Brain Mapping

KW - Cognition

KW - Cohort Studies

KW - Dopamine

KW - Gambling

KW - Humans

KW - Judgment

KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

KW - Male

KW - Mood Disorders

KW - Neural Pathways

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Reward

KW - Thinking

KW - Ventral Tegmental Area

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2915-06.2006

DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2915-06.2006

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 16971537

VL - 26

SP - 9530

EP - 9537

JO - J NEUROSCI

JF - J NEUROSCI

SN - 0270-6474

IS - 37

ER -