Neural signatures of model-based and model-free reinforcement learning across prefrontal cortex and striatum (opens in new tab)

Animals integrate knowledge about how the state of the environment evolves to choose actions that maximise reward. Such goal-directed behaviour – or model-based (MB) reinforcement learning (RL) – can flexibly adapt choice to changes, being thus distinct from simpler habitual – or model-free (MF) RL – strategies. Previous inactivation and neuroimaging work implicates prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the caudate striatal region in MB-RL; however, details are scarce about its implementation at the si...