Pleasure/Pain Systems?
THE PLEASURE & PAIN SYSTEMS
All these regions are connected by the ‘pleasure or reward bundle’. Their activation causes repetitions of a gratifying action. This then strengthens their associated neural pathways. That’s why reward (pleasure) & punishment (pain) circuits supply the needed motivation for our behaviors. These circuits, acting as programs, can flip on or off, like flipping a coin.
The main centers of the brain’s reward circuit are located along the Medial Forebrain Bundle (MFB). They let the hypothalamus know when rewards are available. It then uses the pituitary gland to activate the VTA, and the autonomic and endocrine functions of the entire body.
These circuits are at the heart of our mental activities and guide all our behaviors. Its central link consists of nerve connections between two particular small groups of neurons. One of these groups is located in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the other in the nucleus accumbens.
Dopamine is the chemical messenger between the 2 groups. Here is where most drugs act and cause dependencies. All psychoactive drugs seem to, directly or indirectly, increase the amount of dopamine in the reward circuit.
