Topic: model-free RL

Animals and humans have multiple reinforcement learning (RL) systems, especially a hard-wired Pavlovian system that learns state-outcome associations and promotes an approach to rewards and avoidance of punishment; and an instrumental system that learns values based on state-action-outcome associations. Conflict between the two systems sometimes leads to suboptimal decisions including pathological behaviors but factors that affect the conflict remain largely unclear. Meanwhile, previous findings suggest that taxing cognitive resources alters several decision-making processes and a balance betw