6. Rewards, Pleasure, and Feeding Behavior Flashcards
(24 cards)
What are the two main components of the reward system?
Hedonic/Liking Component and Motivational/Wanting Component
What does the Hedonic/Liking Component refer to?
The pleasure derived from consuming certain foods
What does the Motivational/Wanting Component refer to?
What drives seeking and consumption of foods
Which brain region contains both ‘liking hotspots’ and larger regions involved in ‘wanting’?
Nucleus Accumbens
What is the role of the Ventral Pallidum in the reward system?
A crucial hub for pleasure responses
Which part of the brain is part of the hedonic hotspot network?
Orbitofrontal Cortex and Insular Cortex
What brain structure integrates homeostatic and reward circuits?
Hypothalamus
What is the function of the Ventral Tegmental Area in the reward system?
Source of dopaminergic projections to reward regions
What serves as an ‘information highway’ connecting various reward centers?
Medial forebrain bundle
Which neurotransmitter system primarily mediates ‘liking’ (pleasure) responses?
Opioid Signaling
What effect does mu-opioid receptor activation have in ‘hotspots’?
Increases hedonic reactions to sweet tastes
What happens when opioid signaling is blocked?
Reduces positive responses to food
Which neurotransmitter system is also involved in ‘liking’ responses?
Endocannabinoid System
What effect does anandamide injection into the nucleus accumbens have?
Increases hedonic responses
Which neurotransmitter system primarily mediates ‘wanting’ (motivation)?
Dopamine System
What is the effect of depleting dopamine on pleasure responses?
Doesn’t affect pleasure responses but reduces food-seeking behavior
Do Parkinson’s patients experience normal pleasure despite dopamine deficiency?
Yes, they still experience normal pleasure
What drives homeostatic feeding?
Metabolic needs regulated by the hypothalamus
What characterizes reward-driven feeding?
Motivated by pleasure regardless of metabolic need
Which neuropeptide may link homeostatic and reward systems?
Orexin
Where do orexin neurons project from?
Lateral hypothalamus to reward centers
What does the ‘incentive sensitization’ hypothesis suggest about some individuals?
They may have hyperactive ‘wanting’ circuits compared to ‘liking’ circuits
How might the imbalance between ‘wanting’ and ‘liking’ circuits contribute to obesity?
Makes individuals more vulnerable to food cues
What may provide insights into eating disorders according to the text?
Understanding how these circuits change over time
