Neurobiology of Dopamine and Motivation

A set of flashcards summarizing key concepts related to dopamine, motivation, and addiction from the lecture notes.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward processing and motivation.

Substantia Nigra

A region in the ventral midbrain that is crucial for motor control and is affected in Parkinson's disease.

Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA)

A part of the midbrain associated with reward and motivation.

Striatum

A subcortical structure, including the caudate nucleus and putamen, important for motor control.

Nigrostriatal Pathway

The pathway that projects from the substantia nigra to the dorsal striatum, primarily involved in motor control.

Mesocorticolimbic Pathway

The pathway from the VTA to the cortex and limbic system, linked to reward and reinforcement learning.

Nucleus Accumbens

A key region in the ventral striatum that plays a significant role in the reward circuitry.

Reward Processing

The brain's mechanism of predicting and responding to rewards.

Habit

A behavior that is a simple, reliable solution to a recurring problem, often automatic and context-dependent.

Goal-Directed Behavior

Flexible actions aimed at achieving a specific outcome, requiring conscious evaluation.

Compulsive Behavior

Actions driven by a need to alleviate distress, often resulting in persistent engagement despite negative consequences.

Addiction

Compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences, often involving physiological dependency.

Amotivation

A state of reduced motivation characterized by a lack of drive to engage in activities.

Intrinsic Motivation

Engaging in an activity for its own sake, driven by personal satisfaction and interest.

Extrinsic Motivation

Engaging in an activity to achieve an external reward or avoid punishment.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A psychological framework that ranks human needs, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization.

Self-Determination Theory

A theory of motivation emphasizing intrinsic drives, competence, and relatedness as key components for motivation.