Role of Glutamate and Dopamine in learning?

[HiddenUser]

Quite unsure of the dopamine. Is it referring to its involvement in rewards (operant learning) or its role in the production of dendritic spines?

[joseph95]

Rewards.

[Scooby]

Never heard of dopamine referred to in operant conditioning 

Oxford mentions that dopamine is involved in the proliferation of dendritic spines after repeated exposure of the neuron to glutamate. Not sure how accurate that is though 

[Felicity Wishes]

Never heard of dopamine referred to in operant conditioning 

Oxford mentions that dopamine is involved in the proliferation of dendritic spines after repeated exposure of the neuron to glutamate. Not sure how accurate that is though 

Never heard that proliferation one before.  lol.
Dopamine is linked with pleasure and therefore linked with positive reinforcement in operant conditioning.

[HiddenUser]

Yeah I've heard of it relating to both contexts, I'm just confused as to which one I am supposed to answer with.

[Felicity Wishes]

Yeah I've heard of it relating to both contexts, I'm just confused as to which one I am supposed to answer with.

It depends on the question. If you were asked 'what is the role of dopamine in learning?' answer with the dendrite thing first, because questions like that seem like they are asking about the neuronal level and after you've explained that, you could also add that dopamine plays a role in operant conditioning to show that you've considered both sides of the question.

[Scooby]

I don't think they'd ask a question about its role in learning, since it's not explained all that clearly in Grivas or Oxford. If they do though, just go with either of those two

They could ask about it definitely as part of schizophrenia though, and gambling, I think 

[Felicity Wishes]

I don't think they'd ask a question about its role in learning, since it's not explained all that clearly in Grivas or Oxford. If they do though, just go with either of those two

They could ask about it definitely as part of schizophrenia though, and gambling, I think 

Mhmm. Schizophrenia is the one I'm studying and dopamine is pretty important for the biological factors!