Post-learning replay of hippocampal-striatal activity is biased by reward-prediction signals.

ABSTRACT: Neural activity encoding recent experiences is replayed during sleep and rest to promote consolidation of memories. However, precisely which features of experience influence replay prioritisation to optimise adaptive behaviour remains unclear. Here, we trained adult male rats on a novel maze-based reinforcement learning task designed to dissociate reward outcomes from reward-prediction errors. Four variations of a reinforcement learning model were fitted to the rats' behaviour over multiple days. Behaviour was best predicted by a model incorporating replay biased by reward-prediction error, compared to the same model with no replay, random replay or reward-biased replay. Neural population recordings from the hippocampus and ventral striatum of rats trained on the task evidenced preferentia

SUBMITTER: Roscow EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12644820 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature