David Mathar
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View article: Reduced Model-Based Control in Gambling Disorder Despite Intact Neural Value and Task Structure Representations
Reduced Model-Based Control in Gambling Disorder Despite Intact Neural Value and Task Structure Representations Open
Disordered gambling has been linked to impairments in goal-directed (model-based) control and reinforcement learning. Here we investigated the potential neural basis of this impairment using a sequential reinforcement learning task (modifi…
View article: Catecholamine Precursor Modulation of Human Exploration: Evidence From a Large Gender-Balanced Sample
Catecholamine Precursor Modulation of Human Exploration: Evidence From a Large Gender-Balanced Sample Open
The catecholamine precursor tyrosine has been linked to improved cognitive performance, but investigations into decision-making and reinforcement learning processes known to be under catecholamine control are sparse. We examined the impact…
View article: Signatures of heuristic-based directed exploration in two-step sequential decision task behaviour
Signatures of heuristic-based directed exploration in two-step sequential decision task behaviour Open
Processes formalized in classic Reinforcement Learning (RL) theory, such as model-based (MB) control and exploration strategies have proven fertile in cognitive and computational neuroscience, as well as computational psychiatry. Dysregula…
View article: Dopamine and temporal discounting: revisiting pharmacology and individual differences
Dopamine and temporal discounting: revisiting pharmacology and individual differences Open
Disorders characterised by changes in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission are often linked to changes in the temporal discounting of future rewards. Likewise, pharmacological manipulations of DA neuro-transmission in healthy individuals modula…
View article: Dopamine regulates decision thresholds in human reinforcement learning in males
Dopamine regulates decision thresholds in human reinforcement learning in males Open
Dopamine fundamentally contributes to reinforcement learning, but recent accounts also suggest a contribution to specific action selection mechanisms and the regulation of response vigour. Here, we examine dopaminergic mechanisms underlyin…
View article: Erotic cue exposure increases neural reward responses without modulating temporal discounting
Erotic cue exposure increases neural reward responses without modulating temporal discounting Open
Humans prefer smaller sooner over larger later rewards, a tendency denoted as temporal discounting. Discounting of future rewards is increased in multiple maladaptive behaviors and clinical conditions. Although temporal discounting is stab…
View article: Erotic cue exposure increases physiological arousal, biases choices toward immediate rewards, and attenuates model‐based reinforcement learning
Erotic cue exposure increases physiological arousal, biases choices toward immediate rewards, and attenuates model‐based reinforcement learning Open
Computational psychiatry focuses on identifying core cognitive processes that appear altered across distinct psychiatric disorders. Temporal discounting of future rewards and model‐based control during reinforcement learning have proven as…
View article: Signatures of heuristic-based directed exploration in two-step sequential decision task behaviour
Signatures of heuristic-based directed exploration in two-step sequential decision task behaviour Open
Processes formalized in classic Reinforcement Learning (RL) theory, such as model-based (MB) control and exploration strategies have proven fertile in cognitive and computational neuroscience, as well as computational psychiatry. Dysregula…
View article: The catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces autonomic arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting
The catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces autonomic arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting Open
Supplementation with the catecholamine precursor L-Tyrosine might enhance cognitive performance, but overall findings are mixed. Here, we investigate the effect of a single dose of tyrosine (2g) vs. placebo on two catecholamine-dependent t…
View article: Appetitive cue exposure increases neural reward responses without modulating temporal discounting
Appetitive cue exposure increases neural reward responses without modulating temporal discounting Open
When given a choice, humans and many animals prefer smaller but sooner over larger but later rewards, a tendency referred to as temporal discounting. Alterations in devaluation of future rewards have been reported in a range of maladaptive…
View article: Dopamine regulates decision thresholds in human reinforcement learning
Dopamine regulates decision thresholds in human reinforcement learning Open
Dopamine fundamentally contributes to reinforcement learning by encoding prediction errors, deviations of an outcome from expectation. Prediction error coding in dopaminergic regions in human functional neuroimaging studies is well replica…
View article: Erotic cue exposure increases physiological arousal, biases choices towards immediate rewards and attenuates model-based reinforcement learning
Erotic cue exposure increases physiological arousal, biases choices towards immediate rewards and attenuates model-based reinforcement learning Open
Computational psychiatry focuses on identifying core cognitive processes that appear altered across a broad range of psychiatric disorders. Temporal discounting of future rewards and model-based control during reinforcement learning have p…
View article: Parameter and Model Recovery of Reinforcement Learning Models for Restless Bandit Problems
Parameter and Model Recovery of Reinforcement Learning Models for Restless Bandit Problems Open
Multi-armed restless bandit tasks are regularly applied in psychology and cognitive neuroscience to assess exploration and exploitation behavior in structured environments. These models are also readily applied to examine effects of (virtu…
View article: A single dose of the catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces physiological arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting
A single dose of the catecholamine precursor Tyrosine reduces physiological arousal and decreases decision thresholds in reinforcement learning and temporal discounting Open
Supplementation with the catecholamine precursor L-Tyrosine might enhance cognitive performance, but overall findings are mixed. Here, we investigate the effect of a single dose of tyrosine (2g) vs. placebo on two key aspects of catecholam…
View article: Gambling Environment Exposure Increases Temporal Discounting but Improves Model-Based Control in Regular Slot-Machine Gamblers
Gambling Environment Exposure Increases Temporal Discounting but Improves Model-Based Control in Regular Slot-Machine Gamblers Open
Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that negatively impacts personal finances, work, relationships and mental health. In this pre-registered study (https://osf.io/5ptz9/) we investigated the impact of real-life gambling environment…
View article: Parameter and model recovery of reinforcement learning models for restless bandit problems
Parameter and model recovery of reinforcement learning models for restless bandit problems Open
Multi-armed restless bandit tasks are regularly applied in psychology and cognitive neuroscience to assess exploration and exploitation behavior in structured environments. These models are also readily applied to examine effects of (virtu…
View article: Increased temporal discounting and reduced model-based control in problem gambling are not substantially modulated by exposure to virtual gambling environments
Increased temporal discounting and reduced model-based control in problem gambling are not substantially modulated by exposure to virtual gambling environments Open
High-performance virtual reality (VR) technology has opened new possibilities for the examination of the reactivity towards addiction-related cues (cue-reactivity) in addiction. In this preregistered study ( https://osf.io/4mrta ), we inve…
View article: Gambling environment exposure increases temporal discounting but improves model-based control in regular slot-machine gamblers
Gambling environment exposure increases temporal discounting but improves model-based control in regular slot-machine gamblers Open
Gambling disorder is a behavioral addiction that negatively impacts personal finances, work, relationships and mental health. In this pre-registered study ( https://osf.io/5ptz9/?view_only=62956a2afcd1495984db4be18c54b50a ) we investigated…
View article: Dopamine release, diffusion and uptake: A computational model for synaptic and volume transmission
Dopamine release, diffusion and uptake: A computational model for synaptic and volume transmission Open
Computational modeling of dopamine transmission is challenged by complex underlying mechanisms. Here we present a new computational model that (I) simultaneously regards release, diffusion and uptake of dopamine, (II) considers multiple te…
View article: Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making
Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making Open
Involvement of dopamine in regulating exploration during decision-making has long been hypothesized, but direct causal evidence in humans is still lacking. Here, we use a combination of computational modeling, pharmacological intervention …
View article: Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making
Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making Open
raw choice data of the four-armed bandit task 1. fMRI study (31 participants, 3 drug conditions (placebo, L-dopa, haloperidol) ) 2. pilot study (16 participants)
View article: Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making
Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making Open
raw choice data of the four-armed bandit task 1. fMRI study (31 participants, 3 drug conditions (placebo, L-dopa, haloperidol) ) 2. pilot study (16 participants)
View article: Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making
Dopaminergic modulation of the exploration/exploitation trade-off in human decision-making Open
Summary A central issue in reinforcement learning and decision-making is whether to exploit knowledge of reward values, or to explore novel options. Although it is widely hypothesized that dopamine neurotransmission plays a key role in reg…
View article: A potential link between gambling addiction severity and central dopamine levels: Evidence from spontaneous eye blink rates
A potential link between gambling addiction severity and central dopamine levels: Evidence from spontaneous eye blink rates Open
Accumulating evidence points at similarities between substance use disorders (SUD) and gambling disorder on the behavioral and neural level. In SUD, attenuation of striatal D2/3-receptor availability is a consistent finding, at least for s…
View article: Obesity is associated with insufficientbehavioral adaptation
Obesity is associated with insufficientbehavioral adaptation Open
Obesity is one of the major health concerns nowadays according to the World Health Organisation (WHO global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010). Thus, there is an urgent need for understanding obesity-associated alterations in …
View article: A potential link between gambling addiction severity and central dopamine levels – evidence from spontaneous eye blink rates in gamblers and controls
A potential link between gambling addiction severity and central dopamine levels – evidence from spontaneous eye blink rates in gamblers and controls Open
Accumulating evidence points at similarities between substance use disorders and pathological gambling on the behavioral and neural level. In substance addiction, dysregulation of striatal dopamine transmission has been consistently reveal…
View article: Is it Worth the Effort? Novel Insights into Obesity-Associated Alterations in Cost-Benefit Decision-Making
Is it Worth the Effort? Novel Insights into Obesity-Associated Alterations in Cost-Benefit Decision-Making Open
Cost-benefit decision-making entails the process of evaluating potential actions according to the trade-off between the expected reward (benefit) and the anticipated effort (costs). Recent research revealed that dopaminergic transmission w…