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High estrogen states enhance reinforcement learning

Nature Neuroscience volume 28, pages 2410–2412 (2025)Cite this article

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We have all heard the cliché; hormones make us unreliable and unpredictable. However, in this issue of Nature Neuroscience, Golden et al. show that higher states of endogenous estrogen enhance reward prediction errors in sophisticated ways, which promotes adaptive behavior and improves performance.

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Fig. 1: Estrogen modulates dopamine prediction errors.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia

    Masakazu Taira & Melissa J. Sharpe

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  1. Masakazu Taira
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  2. Melissa J. Sharpe
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Correspondence to Masakazu Taira or Melissa J. Sharpe.

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Taira, M., Sharpe, M.J. High estrogen states enhance reinforcement learning. Nat Neurosci 28, 2410–2412 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02105-y

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