Experience-dependent plasticity: differential changes in activation associated with repeated reinforcement.

Full Abstract

Experience-dependent change in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal is increasingly being employed in neuroimaging research to examine questions about function and plasticity. In this investigation, plasticity was examined during consecutive visual cue presentations that preceded correct button presses and subsequent reinforcer deliveries. Using functional neuroimaging and a modified repeated acquisition methodology, 10 adult subjects learned, through trial and error, a series of novel cue-response-reinforcer relations. Separate BOLD responses were obtained to consecutive cues and reinforcers. Repeated measures analysis of variance highlighted differential BOLD response changes. Consecutive visual cue presentations elicited rapid bilateral increases in activation in the anterior cingulate and medial frontal gyrus and moderate increases in medial temporal lobe structures and the striatum. Consecutive reinforcer presentations elicited rapid increases in activation in the left precuneus, lingual and fusiform gyri and moderate increases in medial temporal lobe structures and striatum. Within the medial temporal lobe, cues elicited a gradual increase then an abrupt decrease in activation and rewards elicited abrupt and then sustained activation. Consideration of experience-dependent BOLD response change and variability provides basic research a new perspective from which to examine regional plasticity and further explore dynamic experience-dependent shifts among cognitive processes. Furthermore, BOLD change and variability offer many clinical research areas novel supplemental indices of neuropathology.

Author information

Author/s: Schlund, M W (MW); Rosales-Ruiz, J (J); Vaidya, M (M); Glenn, S S (SS); Staff, D (D);

Affiliation: Department of Behavior Analysis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA. schlund(-atsign-)kennedykrieger.org <schlund(-atsign-)kennedykrieger.org>

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 155 (issue 1) : pp 17-23

Dates: Created 2008/07/23; Completed 2008/11/05;

PMID: 18565682, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.