Periaqueductal gray passes over disappointment and signals continuity of remaining reward expectancy
2024
How the Brain Helps Us Handle Disappointment
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Lee Hyunchan, Hikosaka Okihide
Primary Institution: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Hypothesis
The periaqueductal gray (PAG) plays a critical role in inhibiting escape behaviors and facilitating ongoing motivated behaviors in response to disappointment.
Conclusion
The study found that PAG activity is suppressed by reward expectancy, which helps animals persist in seeking rewards despite experiencing disappointment.
Supporting Evidence
- Disappointment helps animals adjust their strategies in reward-seeking behaviors.
- The PAG is key in regulating negative emotions and escape behaviors.
- PAG activity is tonically suppressed by reward expectancy during reward-seeking tasks.
- The suppression of PAG activity correlates with persistent reward-seeking behavior.
Takeaway
When animals feel disappointed, a part of their brain helps them keep trying to get rewards instead of giving up.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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