The Neuropharmacological Basis of Reward

Download or read book The Neuropharmacological Basis of Reward written by Jeffrey M. Liebman and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume reviews recent major advances in reinforcement and behaviour. The contributors, all prominent physiological psychologists and behavioural pharmacologists, have extensively analysed current research on drugs, brain neurotransmitters, and reinforcement in animals. The book documents convergent evidence that implicates the nucleus accumbens and its dopaminergic afferents in reward. Controversial themes include the identity of the neurons mediating intracranial self-stimulation, and whether or not non-dopaminergic neurons can independently mediatereinforcement. Exciting new technical advances, such as conditioned place preferences, intracranial microinjection, and self-administration of drugs, as well as advanced new techniques for measuring the specificity of drug effects on reinforcement, are thoroughly explained and future research directionsoutlined.