Biological Psych 9: Reinforcement & Dopamine (Lec 34)

Question 1

Behaviour is controll d by its consequences. This is know as the _____ ___ ______

Answer 1

Law of effect

Question 2

It is released following natural rewards and drugs. It’s reinforcing effects can be decreased using ant.agonists against it. Drugs that modulate it are modulated by reinforcing effects of brain stimulation, and stimulating its specific neuron types. What neurotransmitter am I talking about?

Answer 2

Dopamine!

Question 3

Name 4 pieces of evidence that dopamine has a reinforcing role

Answer 3

1. it’s released following natural rewards
2. Dopamine antagonists act decrease the reinforcing effects of natural rewards and drugs
3. drugs that modulate dopamine modulate the reinforcing effects of brain stimulation
4. stimulating dopaminergic neurons is reinforcing

Question 4

Breakdown the word mesolimbocortical

Answer 4

Meso= middle

Limbo =part of the limbic system

Cortical =approaches the cortex

Question 5

Which is the main reward pathway, the mesolimbic or mesostriatal dopaminergic pathway?

What is another name it’s known by? Explain the reason for this nomenclature.

Answer 5

The mesolimbic pathway

It’s also known as the ventral striatum, because it runs between the ventral take mental area and the nucleus accumbens.