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Positive reward prediction errors during decision-making strengthen memory encoding

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony I. Jang

    (Brown University)

  • Matthew R. Nassar

    (Brown University
    Brown University)

  • Daniel G. Dillon

    (McLean Hospital
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Michael J. Frank

    (Brown University
    Brown University)

Abstract

Dopamine is thought to provide reward prediction error signals to temporal lobe memory systems, but the role of these signals in episodic memory has not been fully characterized. Here we developed an incidental memory paradigm to (i) estimate the influence of reward prediction errors on the formation of episodic memories, (ii) dissociate this influence from surprise and uncertainty, (iii) characterize the role of temporal correspondence between prediction error and memoranda presentation and (iv) determine the extent to which this influence is dependent on memory consolidation. We found that people encoded incidental memoranda more strongly when they gambled for potential rewards. Moreover, the degree to which gambling strengthened encoding scaled with the reward prediction error experienced when memoranda were presented (and not before or after). This encoding enhancement was detectable within minutes and did not differ substantially after 24 h, indicating that it is not dependent on memory consolidation. These results suggest a computationally and temporally specific role for reward prediction error signalling in memory formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony I. Jang & Matthew R. Nassar & Daniel G. Dillon & Michael J. Frank, 2019. "Positive reward prediction errors during decision-making strengthen memory encoding," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(7), pages 719-732, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:3:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-019-0597-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0597-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Seetha Krishnan & Chad Heer & Chery Cherian & Mark E. J. Sheffield, 2022. "Reward expectation extinction restructures and degrades CA1 spatial maps through loss of a dopaminergic reward proximity signal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Payam Piray & Nathaniel D Daw, 2020. "A simple model for learning in volatile environments," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, July.
    3. James W. Antony & Jacob Dam & Jarett R. Massey & Alexander J. Barnett & Kelly A. Bennion, 2023. "Long-term, multi-event surprise correlates with enhanced autobiographical memory," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(12), pages 2152-2168, December.

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