Publication
Erik B. Oleson, Ronny N. Gentry, Vivian C. Chioma, and Joseph F. Cheer. Subsecond Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Predicts Conditioned Punishment and Its Successful Avoidance. Journal of Neuroscience 32(42):14804–14808 (2012). [20]
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3087-12.2012
Site summary — not the original abstract
Oleson and colleagues recorded subsecond dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core of male rats during a signaled footshock-avoidance task: nine rats could press a lever before shock to avoid it or after onset to escape it, while a separate four-rat experiment examined conditioned fear. [20]
Dopamine rose at the warning cue before successful avoidance, fell before escape responses, and rose during safety periods after either response; the authors interpreted these patterns as signals related to predicted outcomes and learning. [20]
The measurements were made in rats and do not directly demonstrate pleasure, relief, or freedom from fear in dogs, nor do they compare the efficacy or welfare of canine training methods. [20]
Responses