Schultz, Dayan & Montague (1997), Science 275 — reward-prediction-error signal: unpredicted rewards drive dopamine bursts; fully predicted ones don't; primate electrophysiology

Claim: Schultz, Dayan & Montague (1997), "A Neural Substrate of Prediction and Reward," Science 275(5306), 1593-1599 — established the reward-prediction-error signal (unpredicted rewards drive dopamine bursts; fully predicted ones do not).

Source: Schultz et al. (1997), Science.

Confidence: Verified.

Caveat: Primate electrophysiology — foundational for the mechanism, NOT evidence of benign human tool-engagement. Do not overstate as direct tool evidence.

Why this matters for Candid: Useful for one-line "the brain treats surprise as more rewarding" anchor. Do not cite as "tools should be surprising." Pair with the benign behavioural evidence (Shen, Fishbach & Hsee (2015), JCR 41(5) — Motivating-Uncertainty Effect: people invest MORE effort for an uncertain reward (50% $2 / 50% $1) than for certain HIGHER-expected-value reward — but ONLY under PROCESS focus) for any practical claim.