Discrete coding of reward probability and uncertainty by dopamine neurons
Fiorillo, Tobler and Schultz recorded dopamine neurons while distinct cues signalled the probability of a reward. Activity changed steadily across the full range of probabilities, and a second, gradually rising response towards the expected time of reward tracked uncertainty. The authors suggested the findings may bear on attention-based learning and on risk-taking. Reading depth: abstract; no figures used.
Fiorillo, Tobler and Schultz recorded dopamine neurons while distinct cues signalled the probability of a reward. Activity changed steadily across the full range of probabilities, and a second, gradually rising response towards the expected time of reward tracked uncertainty. The authors suggested the findings may bear on attention-based learning and on risk-taking. Reading depth: abstract; no figures used.
Written from the abstract (PubMed record), 2003 report read 2026-11-02.
What our sources record
Recorded when this source was checked, figures included, with page references and quotation marks removed.
Fiorillo, C. D., Tobler, P. N., & Schultz, W. (2003). Discrete coding of reward probability and uncertainty by dopamine neurons. Science, 299(5614), 1898-1902. doi:10.1126/science.1077349 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1077349