Human behaviour is driven by two factors: rewards and requirements including eating, sleeping, and avoiding discomfort. A reward could be something that inspires us, pushes us to study, or makes us feel good.
Therefore, how does our brain determine the worth of a reward and how does it result in behaviour? To address this topic, we shall delve into the specifics of the brain circuit referred to as the "reward system" in this article.
The activation of behaviour to accomplish a goal is known as motivation, and it is seen as a basic component of our interactions with the outside world and with one another.
For survival and evolutionary fitness, the nervous system synchronises a variety of motivated behaviours, including drinking, eating, and running away.
Although the specific actions needed for many motivated behaviours differ, common neural underpinnings for traits like approach or avoidance are present.
Certain brain circuits interact to control motivational behaviours, or the mobilisation of individuals to accomplish an objective. Small particles known as molecules cooperate to coordinate these circuits.
These molecules include hormones (chemical messengers that travel throughout the body), neurotransmitters (chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells), and peptides (small proteins).
These molecules combine and process the different inputs that the brain needs to make complicated judgements. Motivation is controlled by the coordinated action of brain chemicals.
The neurotransmitter dopamine is used by neurones in various reward system regions of the brain to communicate: To process rewards and encourage behaviour, for instance, dopamine-producing neurones in the brain's ventral tegmental area interact with the nucleus accumbens.
When we anticipate receiving a reward, dopamine-releasing neurones are triggered. Dopamine is therefore essential for motivation .
When we anticipate receiving a reward, dopamine-releasing neurones are triggered, and dopamine also helps to reinforce memories linked to the reward. In the hippocampus, the brain's learning and memory centre, dopamine improves the connections between neurones, which helps to reinforce memories .
In the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in planning and reasoning, and the amygdala, which processes emotions, dopamine signalling establishes emotional associations with rewards.
Individual differences exist in dopamine reactions. While some people's brains react more strongly to punishments, others' brains react more strongly to rewards.
The amygdala is highly influenced by motivation and reward-based learning. Dopamine signalling in the striatum and prefrontal cortex, two regions known to affect motivation and reward, is higher in participants who are highly driven and goal-focused, according to studies.
In essence, the brain's reward system is a network that recognises actions or events that are deemed enjoyable or fulfilling. By guaranteeing the receipt of incentives , this method promotes the recurrence of favourable experiences.