Dopamine acts to facilitate instrumental conditioning by
A) increasing the accuracy of signal detection.
B) inhibiting long-lasting LTP.
C) increasing adjunctive behaviors.
D) facilitating long-lasting LTP.
E) blocking glutamate release in the hippocampus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dopamine facilitates long-lasting LTP, which is critical for the formation of long-term memories and the learning of new behaviors through instrumental conditioning. This process involves the strengthening of synapses between neurons in specific neural circuits that are activated during the performance of a behavior, leading to an increase in the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. Dopamine released in response to rewards or positive outcomes of a behavior acts to reinforce synaptic connections and consolidate these changes, promoting the acquisition of new skills and habits.

Dopamine Acts to Facilitate Instrumental Conditioning by