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Goal-directed and habit-like modulations of stimulus processing during reinforcement learning

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • D. Luque
  • T. Beesley
  • R.W. Morris
  • B.N. Jack
  • O. Griffiths
  • T.J. Whitford
  • M.E. Le Pelley
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>15/03/2017
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Neuroscience
Issue number11
Volume37
Number of pages9
Pages (from-to)3009-3017
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Recent research has shown that perceptual processing of stimuli previously associated with high-value rewards is automatically prioritized even when rewards are no longer available. It has been hypothesized that such reward-related modulation of stimulus salience is conceptually similar to an “attentional habit.” Recording event-related potentials in humans during a reinforcement learning task, we show strong evidence in favor of this hypothesis. Resistance to outcome devaluation (the defining feature of a habit) was shown by the stimulus-locked P1 component, reflecting activity in the extrastriate visual cortex. Analysis at longer latencies revealed a positive component (corresponding to the P3b, from 550–700 ms) sensitive to outcome devaluation. Therefore, distinct spatiotemporal patterns of brain activity were observed corresponding to habitual and goal-directed processes. These results demonstrate that reinforcement learning engages both attentional habits and goal-directed processes in parallel. Consequences for brain and computational models of reinforcement learning are discussed.

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