Time elapsed between choices in a probabilistic task correlates with repeating the same decision.

ABSTRACT: Reinforcement learning causes an action that yields a positive outcome more likely to be taken in the future. Here, we investigate how the time elapsed from an action affects subsequent decisions. Groups of C57BL6/J mice were housed in IntelliCages with access to water and chow ad libitum; they also had access to bottles with a reward: saccharin solution, alcohol, or a mixture of the two. The probability of receiving a reward in two of the cage corners changed between 0.9 and 0.3 every 48 hr over a period of ~33 days. As expected, in most animals, the odds of repeating a corner choice were increased if that choice was previously rewarded. Interestingly, the time elapsed from the previous choice also influenced the probability of repeating the choice, and this effect was independent of prev

SUBMITTER: Jablonska J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8248175 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature