The subjective values of stimuli can be changed through reward-based learning, but here the authors show that the value of food items can be modulated by the concurrent presentation of an irrelevant auditory cue to which subjects must make a motor response. The effects of this pairing lasted at least 2 months, and neuroimaging revealed increased preference-related activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
- Tom Schonberg
- Akram Bakkour
- Russell A Poldrack