what is the reward center in a human body?

Question

in my AP Psychology class we have been discussing the brain, nervous systems, etc. This unit hasn't been to horrible for me but im haveing a hard time understading a persons reward center and the reward center defficiency. I was told that it had something to do with addictions......?

Answer 1

The limbic system (Latin limbus: "border" or "edge") includes the structures in the human brain involved in emotion, motivation, and emotional association with memory. The limbic system influences the formation of memory by integrating emotional states with stored memories of physical sensations.

In the ventral tegmental area, located in the mesencephalic part of the brain stem, there is a compact group of dopamine-secreting neurons whose axons end in the nucleus accumbens (mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway). This is the brain's center for reward, pleasure and addiction.

The spontaneous firing or the electrical stimulation of neurons belonging to that region produce pleasurable sensations, some of them similar to orgasm. Many people who, for a genetic error, have a reduction of D2 (dopamine) receptors in the accumbens nucleus, become, sooner or later, incapable to obtain gratification from the common pleasures of life. Thus they turn to noxious "pleasurable" alternatives, like alcoholism, cocaine addiction, impulsive gambling and compulsion for sweet foods. The limbic system is responsible for the release of endorphins the "feel good "chemicals.;


Certain brainstem structures, like the nuclei of the cranial nerves, stimulated by impulses coming from the cortex and the stria tum (a sub cortical formation), are responsible for the physio gnomic : expressions of anger, joy, sadness, tenderness, passions, anger,etc.

Cocaine and other drugs of abuse such as amphetamines can alter the flow of the neurotransmitters and Dopamine. These drugs can heighten the pleasures. Dopamine, a sympathomimetic amine vasopressor, and adrenaline affects brain processes that control movement , control responses and the ability to experience pleasure and pain.

Answer 2

Troy hit it on the head.

The limbic system operates by influencing the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system. The limbic system is highly interconnected with a structure known as the nucleus accumbens, commonly called the brain's pleasure center. The nucleus accumbens plays a role in sexual arousal and the "high" derived from certain recreational drugs. These responses are heavily modulated by dopaminergic projections from the limbic system. Rats with metal electrodes implanted into their nucleus accumbens will repeatedly press a lever which activates this region, and will do so in preference over food and water, eventually dying from exhaustion.

The limbic system is also tightly connected to the prefrontal cortex. Some scientists contend that this connection is related to the pleasure obtained from solving problems. To cure severe emotional disorders, this connection was sometimes surgically severed, a procedure of psychosurgery, called a prefrontal lobotomy (this is actually a misnomer). Patients who underwent this procedure often became passive and lacked all motivation.

There is circumstantial evidence that the limbic system also provides a custodial function for the maintenance of a healthy conscious state of mind.

Answer 3

Their status in life does not matter to God. A human can give 1 million dollars to charity and still not go to heaven because he/she is not saved. In order to get rewards in heaven, it will be determined on how long the person has been a christian as well as how much faith and how much time he has put into christianity. Just the things that made him a better christian is what counts. The things that you do on Earth, do not matter.

Answer 4

The reward center is the part of the brain that releases endorphines.

Answer 5

The reward system of the brain is the limbic system. Drugs act on the neurotransmitters in the limbic system and cause addiction.

Answer 6

it's a part of the brain and you need to study more to find out how it works.