%0 Journal Article %A Cristian Buc Calderon %A Esther De Loof %A Kate Ergo %A Anna Snoeck %A Carsten Nico Boehler %A Tom Verguts %T Signed Reward Prediction Errors in the Ventral Striatum Drive Episodic Memory %D 2020 %R 10.1101/2020.01.03.893578 %J bioRxiv %P 2020.01.03.893578 %X A growing body of behavioral evidence implicates reward prediction errors (RPEs) as a key factor in the acquisition of episodic memory. Yet, important neural predictions related to the role of RPE in declarative memory acquisition remain to be tested. Using a novel variable-choice task, we experimentally manipulated RPEs and found support for key predictions on the neural level with fMRI. Specifically, we demonstrate that trial-specific RPE responses in the ventral striatum (during learning) predict the strength of subsequent episodic memory (during recollection). Furthermore, functional connectivity between task-relevant processing areas (e.g., face-selective areas) and hippocampus, ventral tegmental area, and ventral striatum increased as a function of RPE value (during learning), suggesting a central role of these areas in episodic memory formation. Our results consolidate reinforcement learning theory and striatal RPEs as key operations subtending the formation of episodic memory. %U https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2020/01/03/2020.01.03.893578.full.pdf