Reward Systems
What is the difference between wanting, and liking?
Liking is a (hedonic) experience or pleasure, wanting is a drive to obtain that pleasure
This brain area seems to play an important role in hunger regulation
hypothalamus!
Sweating has this effect on blood volume
It decreases! (Through loss in fluid and salt)
Which of these likely have a higher ratio strain?
-Hiking up a hill to earn a beer
-Hiking up a hill to earn a pencil
The beer!
This neurotransmitter is primarily involved in goal behavior or "wanting"
Dopamine!
This metabolic hormone, produced by the pancreas, helps regulate blood sugar and can influence hunger.
insulin
Eating salty foods increases this property of the blood, which triggers thirst.
osmolarity (or solute concentration)
This area of the brain likely gives humans the ability to work longer than other animals for a long term reward
The frontal cortex
These neurotransmitters are primarily involved in liking or pleasure
Opiods and Endocannabinoids
This hormone, produced by fat cells, signals the brain to reduce appetite.
Leptin
The specific cells that appear to regulate thirst appear in this brain area
Hypothalamus/organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis
In “work for reward” studies, animals with low dopamine are more likely to choose this kind of reward
low effort and low reward options
If my cortex wants me to learn that I like something it needs to make sure it sends that information to the:
hippocampus
If you reaaaaally wanted to increase your food intake, which area of the brain would you request that surgeons remove?
Lateral hypothalamus!
Thirst caused by a loss of extracellular fluid, such as from bleeding or sweating, is called this.
hypovolemic thirst
People with depression often have low motivation for high effort tasks. This is likely due to dysregulation of this brain circuit and neurotransmitter
Mesolimbic pathway and dopamine!
This brain area appears to be important in the process of wanting, liking, and learning
What is the orbitofrontal cortex!
Ghrelin! (Makes us more hungry)
What is the primary function of vasopressin in the body?
To conserve water by reducing urine output through its action on the kidneys.
One could argue that the basis of planning and motivation begins in this midbrain structure
Ventral tegmental area (VTA)