Dopamine Compensates for Amyloid-Induced Default Mode Network Dysfunction to Support Learning

Abstract

Throughout the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD) β-amyloid (Aβ) accumulates preferentially within the default mode network (DMN), yet the functional and behavioural consequences of this pathological burden remain poorly understood. Using task-based fMRI combined with Aβ, tau, and dopamine PET in cognitively normal older adults, we show that Aβ burden impairs learning independent of tau, but this learning performance is recovered with higher dorsolateral striatal dopamine synthesis capacity. Investigating the neural mechanisms that support this learning, we observe that Aβ positive individuals show attenuated DMN activity to error related feedback, a metric that relates to poorer learning. When estimating the effective connectivity during feedback, computational modelling reveals that Aβ induces dis-inhibition of the DMN during error processing. Critically, dopamine synthesis capacity in the dorsolateral striatum rebalances effective connectivity between the DMN and frontostriatal network, thereby opposing Aβ related disruption. These findings establish a systems-level framework in which Aβ impairs learning by disrupting dynamic DMN modulation during feedback, a disruption for which dopaminergic function can partially compensate. This suggests that learning in the presence of Aβ may be subserved by dopamine-dependent network rebalancing, a candidate mechanism of cognitive resilience to support learning in preclinical AD.