Reward and Pleasure

Question 1

3 components of reward

Answer 1

liking (pleasure/hedonic component), wanting(motivation/drive), and learning

Question 2

2 components of liking/pleasure component of reward

Answer 2

subconscious (bias) and conscious

Question 3

2 dimensions of characterizing stimuli

Answer 3

intensity and valence (pleasantness)

Question 4

relative intensities of positive and negative valence

Answer 4

negative valence is more intense

Question 5

what are the 6 main brain hubs contributing to reward and pleasure

Answer 5

ventral pallidum, nucleus accumbens, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, thalamus, ventral tegmental area

Question 6

where is the ventral pallidum

Answer 6

in the basal ganglia

Question 7

where is the nucleus accumbens

Answer 7

in the ventral striatum (basal ganglia)

Question 8

where is the VTA

Answer 8

midbrain; top of the brainstem

Question 9

orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) role in reward/pleasure

Answer 9

involved in adaptive/reward based decision making

Question 10

Mid anterior OFC function

Answer 10

represents sensory pleasure (positive valence stimuli)

Question 11

Medial (middle) OFC function

Answer 11

learning and memory of rewards

Question 12

lateral (outside) OFC

Answer 12

negative reinforcers (negative valence stimuli)

Question 13

organization of reinforcers by complexity in the OFC

Answer 13

posterior: less complex reinforcers
anterior: more complex reinforcers

Question 14

where is satiation signaling localized

Answer 14

orbital frontal cortex

Question 15

how does OFC regulate/evolve adaptive decision making

Answer 15

-encodes valence
-maintains representations of expected rewards
-learns/updates reward expectations
-predict future rewards
-contributes to computation of decisions

Question 16

endogenous opioids examples

Answer 16

endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins

Question 17

what are endogenous opioids used for

Answer 17

pain relief and reward

Question 18

hedonic hotspot

Answer 18

area of the brain that responds to hedonic stimuli

Question 19

effect of opioid agonist on nucleus accumbens

Answer 19

hedonic hotspot area: increased hedonic reactions
Adverse response area: decrease adverse response
Motivation area: increased motivation for stimuli

Question 20

what do nucleus accumbens sites contribute to

Answer 20

dread and desirep

Question 21

pathway of pleasure information to cortex

Answer 21

nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, thalamus, cortex

Question 22

pathway of pleasure information to cortex: mechanism

Answer 22

mimics the direct pathway of basal ganglia; GABA increase from ventral pallidum -> inhibits thalamus

Question 23

what does increased activity of ventral pallidum do

Answer 23

increase wanting/ motivation for stimuli

Question 24

ventral tegmental area

Answer 24

structure in the midbrain that contributes to learning and reward prediction

Question 25

positive reward prediction

Answer 25

not expecting reward, receives reward

Question 26

negative reward prediction

Answer 26

expect reward, do not get reward

Question 27

zero reward prediction

Answer 27

do not expect reward, do not get reward

Question 28

where do ventral tegmental area cells release neurotransmitter (and which one?)

Answer 28

release dopamine to orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum

Question 29

example of ventral tegmental area (VTA) and reward prediction

Answer 29

rate lever experiment; self stimulating via dopamine release

Question 30

how do heroin and nicotine act on the brain

Answer 30

act on opiate and cholinergic (acetylcholine) receptors in VTA

Question 31

how does cocaine act on brain

Answer 31

acts directly on receptors in nucleus accumbens cells and inhibits reuptake of dopamine/ amphetamines

Question 32

what information do neurons in the amygdala encode

Answer 32

stimulus intensity and valence of stimulus

Question 33

where and how does the amygdala send information

Answer 33

send to the orbitofrontal cortex via uncinate fasciculus

Question 34

2 parts of the automatic nervous system

Answer 34

sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) and parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)

Question 35

cells that connect the ANS

Answer 35

autonomic ganglion

Question 36

where does the ANS send information

Answer 36

smooth muscle

Question 37

how is sensory information from reproductive organs sent though ANS

Answer 37

glans penis and clitorus send senory signals to spinal cord

Question 38

neural mechanisms of sexual pleasure

Answer 38

HELP

Question 39

pleasureable gloss

Answer 39

all different pleasure have the same baseline effect in the brain; key network of brain area involved with pleasure

Question 40

why do all pleasures feel different

Answer 40

extra sensory experiences give rise to different effects that add to the pleasure the key brain areas provide to give the sensation of a particular pleasure

Question 41

brain areas contributing to liking/ pleasure

Answer 41

mid anterior Orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum

Question 42

brain areas contributing to wanting/motivation

Answer 42

nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, ventral tegmental area

Question 43

brain areas contributing to reward based learning

Answer 43

medial orbitalfrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, amygdala

Question 44

what do endogenous opioids contribute to

Answer 44

liking/ pleasure

Question 45

what does dopamine contribute to

Answer 45

wanting/motivation and reward based learning

Question 46

where is the brains source of dopamine

Answer 46

ventral tegmental area

Question 47

where is dopamine release in the pleasure/reward system

Answer 47

prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens