Definitionv1DF-441
Dopamine prediction error
the neurochemical signal that encodes the difference between what you predicted and what you got, serving as the reinforcement signal that updates the strength of the cue-routine connection in habit formation
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely establishes what dopamine prediction error means in the context of habit formation by specifying its function (encoding prediction difference), its role (reinforcement signal), and its mechanism (updating cue-routine connection strength). It distinguishes it from the common misconception of dopamine as a pleasure chemical and anchors it in Schultz's neuroscience research.