Innovative Study Reveals Role of Dopamine in Human Brain Training
In a groundbreaking study conducted by scientists from the University of Wake Forest, the role of dopamine in human brain training was explored. For the first time, the work of this neurotransmitter was tracked in real time within the brains of three individuals. The findings revealed that dopamine not only influences reward perception, but also plays a crucial role in the learning process through error-based learning.
Dr. Kenneth T. Kishida, associated professor of physiology and pharmacology, explained, “Previous research has mainly focused on the role of dopamine in reward-based learning in animals, but there is limited knowledge about its action in the human brain.” This study is the first to demonstrate how dopamine encodes both rewards and punishments, and how it reflects the “optimal” learning signal used in modern studies of artificial intelligence.
Using the method of quick cyclic voltamerometry in conjunction with machine learning, the scientists measured dopamine levels in real time. The study involved three patients undergoing deep brain stimulation, an invasive surgery used to treat significant tremors.
The participants were engaged in a simple computer game where they learned to make decisions that maximized rewards and minimized punishments. Real cash prizes were awarded for correct decisions, while mistakes resulted in monetary loss. Dopamine levels were measured every 100 milliseconds throughout the game.
The results revealed that the dopamine system is much more complex and versatile than previously believed, playing an important role in both processing losses and victories. Kishida commented, “We discovered that dopamine not only signals positive and negative experiences in the brain, but also optimizes learning based on these outcomes.”
The study highlights the critical role of dopamine in learning from both positive and negative experiences, enabling the brain to adapt its behavior for decision-making that leads to favorable outcomes. Kishida stated, “Dopamine is a vital component of a complex system that instructs our