Contemporary theories guiding the search for neural mechanisms of learning and memory assume that associative learning results from the temporal pairing of cues and reinforcers resulting in coincident activation of associated neurons, strengthening their synaptic connection. While enduring, this framework has limitations: Temporal pairing–based models of learning do not fit with many experimental observations and cannot be used to make quantitative predictions about behavior. Here, we present behavioral data that support an alternative, information-theoretic conception: The amount of information that cues provide about the timing of reward delivery predicts behavior. Furthermore, this approach accounts for the rate and depth of both inhibitory and excitatory learning across paradigms and species. We also show that dopamine release in the ventral striatum reflects cue-predicted changes in reinforcement rates consistent with subjects understanding temporal relationships between task events. Our results reshape the conceptual and biological framework for understanding associative learning.

中文翻译：

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学习取决于事件之间的时间关系所传达的信息，并反映在多巴胺对线索的反应中


指导学习和记忆神经机制研究的当代理论假设，联想学习是由线索和强化物的时间配对产生的，导致相关神经元同时激活，从而加强它们的突触连接。虽然该框架经久不衰，但也有局限性：基于时间配对的学习模型不适合许多实验观察，并且不能用于对行为进行定量预测。在这里，我们提供了支持另一种信息论概念的行为数据：线索提供的有关奖励交付时间的信息量可以预测行为。此外，这种方法解释了跨范式和物种的抑制性和兴奋性学习的速率和深度。我们还表明，腹侧纹状体中的多巴胺释放反映了线索预测的强化率变化，与受试者理解任务事件之间的时间关系一致。我们的结果重塑了理解联想学习的概念和生物学框架。