Non-invasive stimulation of the human frontostriatal network disrupts reward learning
Poster No:
625
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Zhengde Wei1, Qian Zhao1, Xiaochu Zhang1
Institutions:
1University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui
First Author:
Co-Author(s):
Introduction:
Reward learning plays a critical role in shaping adaptive behavior, as it helps organisms, including humans, learn from the outcomes of their actions to ensure evolutionary success (O'Doherty et al., 2017). This process is governed by a frontostriatal network that drives reward-guided actions, with the medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-nucleus accumbens (NAc) being a key circuit in this network (Averbeck & Costa, 2017; Lee et al., 2012; Niv, 2009; O'Doherty et al., 2017). However, there is currently a limited understanding of the brain mechanisms that are causal in implementing this behavior in humans.
Methods:
We combine the transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS), behavioural data, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the causal role of the OFC and the NAc separately and their interaction mechanisms in reward learning. We used tTIS to modulate either the OFC or NAc to identify the intrinsic reward-related beta-gamma frequency while participants performed reinforcement learning tasks. Additionally, we employed reinforcement learning models to investigate potential computational mechanisms underlying the effects of neuromodulation.
Results:
The present study demonstrates for the first time that either OFC or NAc tTIS can disrupt reward learning and noninvasively modulate activity of NAc-OFC circuit in humans. Specifically, tTIS applied on either the OFC or NAc disrupted reward-but not punishment-guided behavior (Fig.1a-b) by reducing weight to positive feedback within a reinforcement learning framework (Fig.1c-e). This behavioral disruption was linked to alterations in the activity of the NAc-OFC circuit (Fig.2a-b). Furthermore, we provided evidence that NAc regulated OFC during rewarding learning. NAc tTIS modulated reward prediction error-related activity both in the NAc and OFC (Fig.2d-g) and functional connection between these areas. Conversely, OFC tTIS only affected activity in OFC but not in NAc (Fig.2h-k).
Conclusions:
Our results provide causal evidence that disrupted OFC-NAc circuit can negatively impact reward-guided behavior and support the idea that reward-relevant signals are first managed by the NAc, the output of which regulates gradual learning mechanisms in the OFC. Our study indicates that tTIS can noninvasively induce specific, focal and functional modulation of deep brain circuit involved in reward learning, thereby facilitating investigations into causal relationships between deep brain activity and behavior, as well as the interactive mechanisms within these circuits.
Brain Stimulation:
Non-invasive Electrical/tDCS/tACS/tRNS 2
Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:
Reward and Punishment 1
Modeling and Analysis Methods:
Activation (eg. BOLD task-fMRI)
Connectivity (eg. functional, effective, structural)
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
BOLD fMRI
Keywords:
Other - transcranial temporal interference stimulation; reward learning; frontostriatal network;
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Was this research conducted in the United States?
Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.
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Provide references using APA citation style.
Lee, D., Seo, H., & Jung, M. W. (2012). Neural Basis of Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 35(Volume 35, 2012), 287–308. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-neuro-062111-150512
Niv, Y. (2009). Reinforcement learning in the brain. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 53(3), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmp.2008.12.005
O’Doherty, J. P., Cockburn, J., & Pauli, W. M. (2017). Learning, Reward, and Decision Making. Annual Review of Psychology, 68(Volume 68, 2017), 73–100. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044216