EFTA00738620.pdf

From: Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation®gmail.com> To: Subject: Re: and here's what my UChicago guys said about the dopamine article... Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:22:17 +0000 Uncertainty is critical in the measure of information and in assessing the accuracy of predictions. It is determined by probability P, being maximal at P = 0.5 and decreasing at higher and lower probabilities. Using distinct stimuli to indicate the probability of reward, we found that the phasic activation of dopamine neurons varied monotonically across the full range of probabilities, supporting past claims that this response codes the discrepancy between predicted and actual reward. In contrast, a previously unobserved response covaried with uncertainty and consisted of a gradual increase in activity until the potential time of reward. The coding of uncertainty suggests a possible role for dopamine signals in attention-based learning and risk-taking behavior. On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 9:13 AM, wrote: interesting.... Howard is a social + cog neurosci guy meeting with him and colleagues monday to discuss breathing/attention/emotion/cognition research met these guys through bamaby love them Begin forwarded message: From: Howard Date: August 15. 2009 5:24:37 AM PDT Thanks One thing that is not made clear in the article is the magnitude of current scientific ignorance in this area. What I mean is this is not exactly settled knowledge but what has been found is reported accurately and what is believed is reported well too. However the dopamine story is not quite so simple. There is a researcher at the U of C who is studying the differential role of dopamine in reward based learning (as described in the article) and information based learning. These are somewhat separable (but can be intertwined in reality and daily life) and may involve slightly different brain networks. The fact that reduction of uncertainty is information (in Claude Shannon's theoretic sense) and also rewarding means that we likely use both networks but the function of DA may be more complex than we think. FYI I recently did a study as a pilot for an NIH grant (that was unfortunately not funded) in which we used a routine means of social exclusion in play a multiplayer computer game (cyberball) which was followed by an episode of texting that established socially reinforcing partners. The goal of the work was to show that social remediation (by texting) of a socially induced hurt (exclusion in cyberball) was a more potent reinforcer (as in the article you sent) than the socially positive texting alone. Thanks! See you Monday. Best EFTA00738620 The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may constitute inside information, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property of Jeffrey Epstein Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected], and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments. EFTA00738621