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Reinforcement systems are believed to drive synaptic plasticity within neural circuits that store memories. Recent evidence from the fruit fly suggests that anatomically distinct dopaminergic neurons ultimately provide the key instructive signals for both appetitive and aversive learning. This dual role for dopamine overturns the previous model that octopamine signalled reward and dopamine punishment. More importantly, this anatomically segregated double role for dopamine in reward and aversion mirrors that emerging in mammals. Therefore, an antagonistic organization of distinct reinforcing dopaminegic neurons is a conserved feature of brains. It now seems crucial to understand how the dopaminergic neurons are controlled and what the released dopamine does to the underlying circuits to convey opposite valence.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.conb.2013.01.005

Type

Journal article

Journal

Curr Opin Neurobiol

Publication Date

06/2013

Volume

23

Pages

324 - 329

Keywords

Animals, Behavior, Animal, Dopamine, Drosophila melanogaster, Learning, Mushroom Bodies, Neurons, Octopamine, Reinforcement, Psychology, Reward