Reinforcement: Mesolimbic pathway

Question 1

Mesolimbic pathways project to the

Answer 1

nucleus accumbens (NA)

Question 2

Mesolimbic pathways, especially the projections to the NA, is involved in…

Answer 2

Reinforcing effects of electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle

Question 3

humans - fMRI studies

Answer 3

Increased NA activity when subjects expected they would receive money

Question 4

Animals: stim of ventral tegmental area (where the axons of the dopamine neurons that synapse with NA originate) or MFB cause

Answer 4

Release of dopamine in nucleus accumbens

Question 5

Animals: Injection of amphetamine and cocaine into what, caused what?

Answer 5

Ventral tegmental area of MFB, caused release of dopamine in the NA

Question 6

Water, food, sex also stim release of dopamine in the NA

Answer 6

that’s all

Question 7

Aversive stimuli also stimulate

Answer 7

release of dopamine in NA, indicating this system is involved in stress as well as reinforcement

Question 8

Reinforcing and aversive stimuli causes

Answer 8

release of dopamine in many areas of the brain in addition to na, so it is not the only reinforcement area of the brain; it’s just the one that has received the most research