Some people earn rewards more successfully when performing goal-directed tasks, but the neuronal changes that could mediate this reward-directed learning are not well understood. Rats were trained to self-administer a sucrose reward, and it was shown that reward learning depends on increased activity and synaptic strength in the amygdala, a brain region important for emotional learning. The level of learning attained by individual animals correlated well with the degree of synaptic strength enhancement.
- Kay M. Tye
- Garret D. Stuber
- Patricia H. Janak