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Pavlov’s dogs were conditioned to go to their treat. Why do some animals learn to interact with the bell instead?

Researchers discovered that sign trackers, which prioritize interacting with cues over waiting for rewards, rely on dopamine in specific brain regions. The study found that inhibiting dopamine prevented rats from learning to sign track, while increasing dopamine did not speed up the process.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNeuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2025

Fluorescent dope

Researchers from Kyoto University and Cambridge University developed a fluorescent dopamine sensor to monitor dopamine signals in primate brains. The study found that dopamine signals varied depending on the location in the striatum, with distinct patterns observed in the anterior putamen and caudate head.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 11, 2025

Measuring the brain's 'rich switch'

Neurobiologists found that richer individuals are slower to learn associating a stimulus with financial reward, leading to slower brain responses in reward areas. The study also measured marginal utility of money, finding greater wealth reduces the likelihood of picking up coins on the street.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateApr 4, 2007