Longitudinal changes in value-based learning in middle childhood: distinct contributions of hippocampus and striatum

  • The hippocampal-dependent memory system and striatal-dependent memory system modulate reinforcement learning depending on feedback timing in adults, but their contributions during development remain unclear. In a 2-year longitudinal study, 6-to-7-year-old children performed a reinforcement learning task in which they received feedback immediately or with a short delay following their response. Children’s learning was found to be sensitive to feedback timing modulations in their reaction time and inverse temperature parameter, which quantifies value-guided decision-making. They showed longitudinal improvements towards more optimal value-based learning, and their hippocampal volume showed protracted maturation. Better delayed model-derived learning covaried with larger hippocampal volume longitudinally, in line with the adult literature. In contrast, a larger striatal volume in children was associated with both better immediate and delayed model-derived learning longitudinally. These findings show, for the first time, an early hippocampal contribution to the dynamic development of reinforcement learning in middle childhood, with neurally less differentiated and more cooperative memory systems than in adults.

Download full text files

Export metadata

Additional Services

Share in Twitter Search Google Scholar
Metadaten
Author:Johannes FalckORCiD, Lei ZhangORCiD, Laurel RaffingtonORCiDGND, Johannes Julius MohnORCiD, Jochen TrieschORCiD, Christine HeimORCiDGND, Yee Lee ShingORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-830740
URL:https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.13.536699v3
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.13.536699
Parent Title (English):bioRxiv
Publisher:bioRxiv
Document Type:Preprint
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2023/05/26
Date of first Publication:2023/05/26
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2024/03/04
Issue:2023.04.13.536699 Version 3
Edition:Version 3
Page Number:29
HeBIS-PPN:516889338
Institutes:Psychologie und Sportwissenschaften / Psychologie
Wissenschaftliche Zentren und koordinierte Programme / Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS)
Dewey Decimal Classification:1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie
3 Sozialwissenschaften / 37 Bildung und Erziehung / 370 Bildung und Erziehung
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY-NC-ND - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International