NIGROSTRIATAL DOPAMINE SYSTEM MAY CONTRIBUTE TO BEHAVIORAL LEARNING THROUGH PROVIDING REINFORCEMENT SIGNALS TO THE STRIATUM

The nigrostriatal dopamine system has long been regarded to play an es sential role in motor mechanisms, since selective damage to this syste m results in the severe motor disturbances known as Parkinson's syndro mes. The mechanisms how the nigrostriatal dopamine system plays a part is still not clear. Based on recording of single neuron activity in t he primate striatum and selective destruction of the nigrostriatal dop amine system, we propose that this system is crucially involved in beh avioral learning through providing reinforcement signals to the striat um during behavioral learning. The way of involvement in learning seem s to be consistent with the reinforcement learning rule.