Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Law of Effect

Law of Effect

B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle...

Associative Learning

Associative Learning

Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Oxytocin receptor or vasopressin 1a receptor knockout suppresses same-sex conspecific aggression without affecting partner preference in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster).

Hormones and behavior·2026

Same author

Scanning Electron Microscopy Identification of Microscopic Onyx Fragments in Blood Aspirated from a Distal Access Catheter after Arteriovenous Malformation Embolization: A Case Report.

Journal of neuroendovascular therapy·2026

Same author

Independence and coherence in temporal sequence computation across the fronto-parietal network.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Incidence and Outcomes of Flow Diverter Braid Deformation following Treatment with Non-DFT Wire Devices.

Neurologia medico-chirurgica·2026

Same author

Lipoxins Regulate Intercalated Disk-Associated Signaling and Immune Remodeling in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Inhibitory DREADD manipulation induces convulsions in the secondary but not the primary somatosensory cortex, providing a clue to their functional differences.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2025

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

Published on: April 15, 2014

Adaptive circuits for action and value information in rodent operant learning.

Alain Rios¹, Kyohei Fujita¹, Yoshikazu Isomura¹

¹Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Japan.

Neuroscience Research

|September 28, 2024

Summary

This review explores the neural circuits of operant learning in rodents, focusing on how dopamine and synaptic plasticity reinforce behaviors. It highlights gene expression changes and neuronal roles in reward-based learning.

Keywords:

Basal ganglia Dopamine Operant learning Transcriptome

More Related Videos

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents

Published on: May 3, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2025

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments

Published on: April 15, 2014

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents

Published on: September 10, 2018

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents

Published on: May 3, 2012

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Behavioral Science
Molecular Biology

Background:

Operant learning involves associating actions with consequences.
Understanding the neural basis of this learning is crucial for neuroscience.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the neural circuits underlying operant learning in rodents.
To emphasize the roles of dopamine, synaptic plasticity, and gene expression.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on rodent operant learning.
Analysis of cortico-basal ganglia circuits and dopamine modulation.
Inclusion of insights from single-cell RNA sequencing studies.

Main Results:

Dopamine plays a key role in reinforcing behaviors via cortico-basal ganglia pathways.
Midbrain dopamine neurons integrate action and reward feedback, enhancing striatal activity.
Striatal neuron diversity contributes to reinforcement learning.

Conclusions:

Operant learning is supported by complex neural circuits involving dopamine and synaptic plasticity.
Advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing offer deeper insights into gene expression during learning.