A transient dopamine signal encodes subjective value and causally influences demand in an economic context

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1706969114
• Publication Date: 2017-11-06T20:20:47Z
• Authors: Scott A. Schelp; Katherine J. Pult...; Dylan R. Rakowski; Devan M. Gomez; Gregory Krzystyniak; Raibatak Das; Erik B. Oleson
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; 03 medical and health sciences; PNAS Plus; Behavior, Animal; Dopamine; Animals; Rats, Long-Evans; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats

Significance A central tenet of economics is that as the price a commodity increases, its demand goes down because individuals choose to buy less. Mounting evidence supports role for neuromodulator dopamine in representing subjective value. We investigated valuation by presenting rats with reward across range prices. showed concentration decreased and increasing release using optogenetic manipulations-altered sensitivity. Increasing prior delivery made animals more sensitive price, whereas at less price. These data extend notion events encode value further demonstrate causally modifies