ANDRZEJ KRAUZE
Pavlovian conditioning is the classic example of associative learning. A dog that always hears a bell ring immediately prior to being fed will eventually salivate at the mere sound of the bell. At the heart of this type of learning is the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine, which helps animals make positive associations to stimuli that herald pleasurable outcomes. But there’s a flip side to dopamine signaling: the development of addictive behaviors. Columbia University neuroscientist Eleanor Simpson discusses a study that pushes the boundaries of what’s known about dopamine, associative learning, and addiction (Nature, 469:53-57, 2011).
The Scientist: How does dopamine help the brain form associations between signals and the rewards that follow?
Eleanor Simpson: One of the major theories of how dopamine is involved in learning ...
