---
layout: post
title: <s>A Reinforcement Learning Mechanism Responsible for the Valuation of Free Choice, Neuron (2014)</s>
category: journalclub
olddate: (Rescheduled)
---

* [Paper](http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(14)00581-9) Cockburn, Jeffrey and Collins, Anne G. E. and Frank, Michael J., A Reinforcement Learning Mechanism Responsible for the Valuation of Free Choice, Neuron, 83(3) 551-557, 2014

* Abstract

Humans exhibit a preference for options they have freely chosen over equally valued options they have not; however, the neural mechanism that drives this bias and its functional significance have yet to be identified. Here, we propose a model in which choice biases arise due to amplified positive reward prediction errors associated with free choice. Using a novel variant of a probabilistic learning task, we show that choice biases are selective to options that are predominantly associated with positive outcomes. A polymorphism in DARPP-32, a gene linked to dopaminergic striatal plasticity and individual differences in reinforcement learning, was found to predict the effect of choice as a function of value. We propose that these choice biases are the behavioral byproduct of a credit assignment mechanism responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of dopaminergic reinforcement learning signals broadcast to the striatum.
---
layout: post
title: A Reinforcement Learning Mechanism Responsible for the Valuation of Free Choice, Neuron (2014)
category: journalclub
olddate: September 13, 2016
---

* [Paper](http://www.cell.com/neuron/abstract/S0896-6273(14)00581-9) Cockburn, Jeffrey and Collins, Anne G. E. and Frank, Michael J., A Reinforcement Learning Mechanism Responsible for the Valuation of Free Choice, Neuron, 83(3) 551-557, 2014

* Abstract

Humans exhibit a preference for options they have freely chosen over equally valued options they have not; however, the neural mechanism that drives this bias and its functional significance have yet to be identified. Here, we propose a model in which choice biases arise due to amplified positive reward prediction errors associated with free choice. Using a novel variant of a probabilistic learning task, we show that choice biases are selective to options that are predominantly associated with positive outcomes. A polymorphism in DARPP-32, a gene linked to dopaminergic striatal plasticity and individual differences in reinforcement learning, was found to predict the effect of choice as a function of value. We propose that these choice biases are the behavioral byproduct of a credit assignment mechanism responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of dopaminergic reinforcement learning signals broadcast to the striatum.
Revert "updated Luisas topic to be rescheuled"
Revert "updated Luisas topic to be rescheuled"

This reverts commit c3f4be3d811059fe7a780cc7c173ecd978861ed9.
