Exhibition of compulsive behavior linked to fluctuations in dopamine levels. Most commonly seen in Parkinson’s patients.
Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome (DDS)
Areas throughout the brain that generate or enhance pleasurable responses when stimulated.
Hedonic Hotspots
Difference between the reward actually received and the reward that was expected. The “error” is crucial, because it allows the brain to adjust for future predictions. Positive RPE (reinforcement), negative RPE (avoidance)
Reward Prediction Errors
Neurotransmitter that is released for various functions: Reward and pleasure, movement and coordination, attention and focus, learning and memory, and hormone regulation.
Dopamine
A disorder that involves obsessions and compulsions. Obsession: obtaining/using a substance. Compulsion: a drive to seek out/use a substance.
Addiction (Substance Use Disorder)
Difficulty experiencing pleasure
Anhedonia
Unusual sensations in the legs. Ranging from tingling, itching, throbbing, “electric,” or “creepy-crawly.” Often at its worst when sitting/lying down, but subside with movement.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
The idea of parts of the brain being devoted to creating feelings of pleasure. Regions are activated to produce pleasure during any gratifying experience, eating, sex, substance use, etc.
Pleasure System/Centers
A different term for pleasure centers, one that focuses more on the neurological processing of positive experiences; and the learning and development of motivation to achieve the experience again.
Reward System
Brain region within the ventral striatum that plays a central role in motivation, reward, and pleasure. HEAVILY involved in processing the effects of psychoactive drugs.
Nucleus Accumbens
Plays an important role in processing positive emotions (pleasure!) by attaching emotional significance to experiences and contributing to the intensity of the feelings.
Amygdala
Large collection of dopamine neurons (but tiny region), deep in the midbrain. Stimulation of this is rewarding and neurons from this region travel directly to the nucleus accumbens.
Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)
Key region for experiencing pleasure because of the VTA. Primary source for dopamine in the reward pathway.
Midbrain
Processes abstract rewards and contributes to the conscious experience of pleasure, by integrating sensory input and emotional context.
Prefrontal Cortex
Section of a neuron that receives messages–extensions that reach out to surrounding neurons.
Dendrites
