Reversal learning strategy in adolescence is associated with prefrontal cortex activationShow others and affiliations
2017 (English)In: European Journal of Neuroscience, ISSN 0953-816X, E-ISSN 1460-9568, Vol. 45, no 1, p. 129-137Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Adolescence is a critical maturation period for human cognitive control and executive function. In this study, a large sample of adolescents (n=85) performed a reversal learning task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed behavioral data using a reinforcement learning model to provide individually fitted parameters and imaging data with regard to reward prediction errors (PE). Following a model-based approach, we formed two groups depending on whether individuals tended to update expectations predominantly for the chosen stimulus or also for the unchosen one. These groups significantly differed in their problem behavior score obtained using the child behavior checklist (CBCL) and in a measure of their developmental stage. Imaging results showed that dorsolateral striatal areas covaried with PE. Participants who relied less on learning based on task structure showed less prefrontal activation compared with participants who relied more on task structure. An exploratory analysis revealed that PE-related activity was associated with pubertal development in prefrontal areas, insula and anterior cingulate. These findings support the hypothesis that the prefrontal cortex is implicated in mediating flexible goal-directed behavioral control.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
WILEY-BLACKWELL , 2017. Vol. 45, no 1, p. 129-137
Keywords [en]
adolescents; prediction error; prefrontal cortex; reversal learning
National Category
Neurosciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-134607DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13401ISI: 000392487100012PubMedID: 27628616OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-134607DiVA, id: diva2:1075992
Note
Funding Agencies|Volkswagen Foundation [II/84 452]; Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) [01ZX1311E]; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [GRK-1123, HE 2597/13-1]
2017-02-212017-02-212018-04-16Bibliographically approved