10-Minute Neuroscience: Reward and Addiction (opens in new tab)

In this video, I explore the brain mechanisms underlying rewarding experiences and addiction. I discuss dopamine’s role in reward and addictive behavior, the major dopamine pathways (mesolimbic, mesocortical, and nigrostriatal), and a range of addiction-related brain changes, including hypofrontality, heightened sensitivity to drug cues, blunted dopamine signaling, tolerance, anhedonia, dependence, and withdrawal. To watch the video, click the "continue reading" link below.