Human learning relies on short-term memories (eligibility traces) which provide a mechanism to reinforce sequences of actions from a single reward (one-shot).

Behavioral analyses show that individuals insensitive to punishment are afraid of aversive events, they are simply unable to change their behaviour to avoid them.

Ventro-lateral prefrontal cortex codes novel rules starting from their first-time implementation right after instruction while early consolidation is channeled through increasing cooperation with the anterior striatum.

Computational modeling of cognitive and neuroscience data is an insightful and powerful tool, but has many potential pitfalls that can be avoided by following simple guidelines.

Globus pallidus neurons projecting to the striatum are preferentially activated by direct glutamatergic innervation from the motor cortex.

New studies examine how the different sub-structures in the cerebellum are organized to receive information during complex behavioral tasks.

Motor and non-motor functions are represented in spatially segregated and temporally organized climbing fiber signals to distinct cerebellar zones during goal-directed behavior.

Cerebellar climbing fibers can generate learned reward-predictive instructional signals, suggesting a role for cerebellar learning in the reinforcement of reward-driven behaviors.

Electrophysiological recordings in monkeys reveal that cerebellar complex spikes encode future reward size when reward information is first made available, but not during reward delivery or smooth pursuit eye movement.

NMDA receptors on PV+ interneurons mediate supralinear integration at feedback synapses from local pyramidal neurons, enabling competing networks to ‘lock’ onto salient inputs.