[Seminar] The Role of Dopamine in Human Decision Making

Dear All,

The Neural Computation Unit (Doya Unit) would like to invite you to the following seminar:

Speaker: Robb Rutledge  (Yale University)

Title: The Role of Dopamine in Human Decision Making

Abstract: The neuromodulator dopamine is believed to play multiple roles in decision making, but the neurocomputational basis of dopamine's influence in human behavior remains unclear. Through a combination of fMRI, pharmacology, and smartphone-based experiments in the general population and in Parkinson's disease, we find evidence that dopamine is associated with increased risk taking in a manner that does not depend on value. Surprising sounds are associated with dopamine release, and we find that surprising sounds increase risk taking in a manner that does not depend on value. Using smartphone-based tasks (https://happinessquest.app) we remotely tested individuals with Parkinson's disease on and off dopamine medication, finding reduced risk taking and again finding support for a role for dopamine in decision making that lies outside of standard economic models of decision making under uncertainty.

We hope to see many of you at the seminar.

Sincerely,
Neural Computation Unit
Contact: ncus@oist.jp