The role of the striatum in aversive learning and aversive prediction errors

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2008 Dec 12;363(1511):3787-800. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0161.

Abstract

Neuroeconomic studies of decision making have emphasized reward learning as critical in the representation of value-driven choice behaviour. However, it is readily apparent that punishment and aversive learning are also significant factors in motivating decisions and actions. In this paper, we review the role of the striatum and amygdala in affective learning and the coding of aversive prediction errors (PEs). We present neuroimaging results showing aversive PE-related signals in the striatum in fear conditioning paradigms with both primary (shock) and secondary (monetary loss) reinforcers. These results and others point to the general role for the striatum in coding PEs across a broad range of learning paradigms and reinforcer types.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Affect
  • Animals
  • Corpus Striatum / physiology*
  • Decision Making / physiology
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Rats