When stimuli (such as rocks in a streambed) that previously predicted the presence of a reinforcer (such as grubs for a hungry organism) no longer have predictive value, what happens to the activity of dopamine neurons in the mesolimbic system?

a. They become hyperactive at the point in time when the grubs would have been eaten.
b. They become hypoactive at the point in time when the grubs would have been eaten.
c. They immediately stop responding altogether to the rocks in the streambed.
d. They immediately increase responding to the rocks in the streambed.
e. Mesolimbic dopamine neurons do not alter their level of activity in response to changes in a stimulus’ predictability of a reinforcer.


Answer: B

Psychology

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