Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

NSCI 140 > Reward System > Flashcards

Reward System Flashcards

1
Q

What type of drivers do we have?

A

Extrinsiv and intrinsic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How d we react to a threat?

A

Avoidance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the reward system do?

A

Produces spikes in the release of dopamine in brain regions connected with pleasure to enhance motivation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Key Neurotransmitter + facts

A

Dopamine
–> not about the pleasure itself but the motivation towards it, spikes in anticipation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Effect of too much/little dopamine

A

To little = Depression or lack of motivation
Too much = addictive behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where are the dopaminergic pathways mostly located?

A

Limbic system and PFC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Functions of dopamine (4)

A

Reward and motivation
Fine tuning motor functions
Compulsion
Perseveration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Too much dopamine leads to …
Too little leads to …
Abnormalities lead to …

A

Addiction (mesolimbic)
Depression (mesocortical)
Schizophrenia
–> Hyperactive mesolimbic, hypolimbic mesocortical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Dopamine in neurodegenerative conditions

A

–> Parkinson’s
(dopamine deficiency in the nigostriatal pathway)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Dopamine in neurodevelopmental conditions

A

–> ADHD
(dopamine dysregulation, deficit in mesolimbic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Parts of the dopaminergic pathways (9)

A
  • Dopaminergic regions
  • Dopaminergic receptive regions
  • GABAergic projections
  • VTA –> Dopamine production
  • Striatum
  • Nucleus accumbens
  • Hipocampus
  • Amygdala
  • PFC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is GABA?

A

neurotransmitter, inhibits excitatory response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which is the dopamine-richest part of the brain?

A

Striatum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

3 pathways for dopamine

A
  • Nigrostriatal
  • Mesolimbic
  • Mesocortical
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Nigostriatal Pathways

A

From substantia nigra to striatum.
Fine-tuning of motor functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Mesolimbic

A

From ventral tegmental area to striatum. Reward and motivation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Mesorcortical

A

VTA to PFC.
Executive and cognitive functioning (planning and goal-directed motivation)

18
Q

“wanting”

A

desire or motivation to obtain rewards.
–> dopaminergic pathways

19
Q

“liking”

A

pleasure of hedonic aspect of rewards
–> mediated by opioidergic and endocannabinoids systems in areas like the nucleus accumbens

20
Q

Are wanting and liking different?

A

Yes, very much so, but they’re related
–> dopamine plays a supporting role in controlling and enhancing hedonic pleasure
–> but there must be a balance between these

21
Q

What is addiction?

A

A persistent release of dopamine produces an intense experience of wanting but not liking
–> this means that one gets desensitized as the pleasure derived gets lowers creating a self-destructive cycle

22
Q

What happens when addiction progresses?

A
  • Affects the PFC and limbic system
  • Drug related cues get stored in amygdala and hippocampus turning everyday shit into triggers for wanting a drug
23
Q

Dopamine and Addiction

A
  • higher dopamine levels in the mesolimbic pathway is liked to addiction
24
Q

When addicted one’s —- undergoes sensitization to wanting and one’s —- becomes desensitized

A

wanting // liking

25
Reinforcement system
Wanting --> anticipates the reward (dopamine release) Liking --> experiencing the reward (dopamine release) --> Leads to learning through strengthening neural connections associated with rewarding behaviour. Strengthens both wanting and liking
26
Parts of addiction
1. Chronic flooding of dopamine changes brain structure 2. Increased sensitivity in 'wanting' system 3. brain reacts to extra dopamine by reducing dopamine receptors 4. this decreases responsiveness in the liking system 5. we also lose the ability to enjoy natural things
27
Developmental aspect of reward
- Developmental mismatch - In teenage yrs, striatum dominates PFC (reward becomes more engaging, encourages more impulsivity in exchange for rewards) - then in adulthood PFC is stronger and controls the striatum (promotes stable decision making and impulse contro)
28
What happens from teen to adult yrs>
Shift from unregulated to regulated reward system
29
Intrinsic motivation
- Natural tendency, driven by internal rewards - Doing things for their own sake - Self-rewarding, self-sustained, healthy - natural capacity
30
Pros of intrinsic motivation
- People tend to have greater excitement and confidence - more creativity - persistence
31
Self-determination theory
- dictates that theres 3 innate psychological needs for intrinsic motivation 1. Autonomy 2. Belonging 3. Competence
32
Autonomy
Act by choice, not by external demands, have at least some control in the process
33
Belonging
need to feel connected to others, feeling valued by others, social need
34
Competence
Our need to feel a sense of growing mastery, engaging in activities that further promote the growth of our abilities
35
Extrinsic motivation
A motivation to participate in an activity based on meeting an external goal, garnering praise and approval, winning a competition, or receiving an award or payment.
36
Downsides of extrinsic motivation
When external rewards become too controlling, our intrinsic enjoyment reduces
37
Undermining effect
When a task is linked to a performance-based rewards, individuals may lose the intrinsic value of succeeding in the task
38
Proof for undermining effect
- in brain scans, --> The anterior striatum shows less activity --> decreased engagement on the right lateral PFC during the task --> Both limbic (impulsive desire) and PFC (cognitive control) activities decrease-
39
How does modern affect dopamine?
- The reward system originated to reinforce survival behavivour - but now minimal effort yields instant rewards - so wer're overwhelmed with dopamine surges which isn't great
40
Consequences of quick rewards
- Reduces dopamine receptor availability and function - Overreliance on instant rewards - Fostered dependency ie addiction
41
How to protect our reward system (7)
- Awareness - Eat nutrient-dense antiinflamatory foods to support pathways - Engage in physical activity - Manage stress - Form strong social support systems - cultivate habits supporting intrinsic motivation - Balance long and short term pleasures

NSCI 140 (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions