Neural Mechanisms of Drug Reward and Neuroanatomy

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the neural mechanisms of drug reward, neuroanatomy, and dopamine pathways as discussed in the lecture notes.

Striatum

A major component of the basal ganglia involved in reward and motivation.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays several roles including reward learning, motivation, and movement.

Nucleus accumbens

Part of the striatum associated with pleasure, reward cues, and motivation.

Basal ganglia

A group of structures in the brain responsible for movement control and learning.

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

A group of neurons in the midbrain involved in the release of dopamine and the reward system.

Substantia nigra

A brain structure that produces dopamine and is associated with movement control.

Direct pathway

A neural pathway that facilitates movement and is activated by dopamine.

Indirect pathway

A neural pathway that inhibits movement and is suppressed by dopamine.

Liking

The pleasurable aspect of reward that does not require dopamine.

Wanting

The motivational drive to obtain a reward, which involves dopamine.

Reward prediction

The process of learning about cues associated with rewards, involving dopamine.

Reward prediction error

The difference between expected and actual rewards, influencing dopamine neuron activity.

Habits

Behaviors that become automatic and inflexible, associated with the dorsolateral striatum.

Neuroanatomy

The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system.

Monoamine neurons

Neurons that synthesize and release neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, primarily located in the brainstem.

Midbrain

The part of the brain that contains the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, crucial for dopamine production.

D1 receptors

Dopamine receptors associated with the direct pathway that facilitate movement.

D2 receptors

Dopamine receptors associated with the indirect pathway that inhibit movement.

Addiction

A condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and use, despite harmful consequences.

Dopaminergic system

The system in the brain that utilizes dopamine to mediate reward and motivation.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, often influenced by environmental factors.