<P> The brain structures that compose the reward system are located primarily within the cortico - basal ganglia - thalamo - cortical loop ; the basal ganglia portion of the loop drives activity within the reward system . Most of the pathways that connect structures within the reward system are glutamatergic interneurons , GABAergic medium spiny neurons , and dopaminergic projection neurons , although other types of projection neurons contribute ( e.g. , orexinergic projection neurons ) . The reward system includes the ventral tegmental area , ventral striatum ( i.e. , the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle ) , dorsal striatum ( i.e. , the caudate nucleus and putamen ) , substantia nigra ( i.e. , the pars compacta and pars reticulata ) , prefrontal cortex , anterior cingulate cortex , insular cortex , hippocampus , hypothalamus ( particularly , the orexinergic nucleus in the lateral hypothalamus ) , thalamus ( multiple nuclei ) , subthalamic nucleus , globus pallidus ( both external and internal ) , ventral pallidum , parabrachial nucleus , amygdala , and the remainder of the extended amygdala . The dorsal raphe nucleus and cerebellum appear to modulate some forms of reward - related cognition ( i.e. , associative learning , motivational salience , and positive emotions ) and behaviors as well . The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus , pedunculopontine nucleus , and lateral habenula ( both directly and indirectly via the rostromedial tegmental nucleus ) are also capable of inducing aversive salience and incentive salience through their projections to the VTA . </P>
<P> The brain structures that compose the reward system are located primarily within the cortico - basal ganglia - thalamo - cortical loop ; the basal ganglia portion of the loop drives activity within the reward system . Most of the pathways that connect structures within the reward system are glutamatergic interneurons , GABAergic medium spiny neurons , and dopaminergic projection neurons , although other types of projection neurons contribute ( e.g. , orexinergic projection neurons ) . The reward system includes the ventral tegmental area , ventral striatum ( i.e. , the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle ) , dorsal striatum ( i.e. , the caudate nucleus and putamen ) , substantia nigra ( i.e. , the pars compacta and pars reticulata ) , prefrontal cortex , anterior cingulate cortex , insular cortex , hippocampus , hypothalamus ( particularly , the orexinergic nucleus in the lateral hypothalamus ) , thalamus ( multiple nuclei ) , subthalamic nucleus , globus pallidus ( both external and internal ) , ventral pallidum , parabrachial nucleus , amygdala , and the remainder of the extended amygdala . The dorsal raphe nucleus and cerebellum appear to modulate some forms of reward - related cognition ( i.e. , associative learning , motivational salience , and positive emotions ) and behaviors as well . The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus , pedunculopontine nucleus , and lateral habenula ( both directly and indirectly via the rostromedial tegmental nucleus ) are also capable of inducing aversive salience and incentive salience through their projections to the VTA . </P>
where is the reward center of the brain located
where is the reward center of the brain located
primarily within the cortico - basal ganglia - thalamo - cortical loop
primarily within the cortico - basal ganglia - thalamo - cortical loop