Apathy, deficiency of motivation including willingness to exert effort for reward, is a common
symptom in many psychiatric and neurological disorders, including depression and …

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a critical region for regulating the appetitive and
consummatory aspects of motivated behavior. Previous work has shown differential effects …

Daily, individuals select actions based on cost-benefit to allocate resources into goal-
directed actions. Different brain regions coordinate this complex decision, including the …

Insulin receptors are expressed throughout the adult brain, and insulin from the periphery
reaches the central nervous system. In humans and rodents, actions of insulin in the brain …

Obesity is a crisis in the United States, producing many co-morbid diseases that can
drastically decrease quality of life. While diet is a major focus for therapeutic intervention, the …

Previous research has demonstrated that dopamine and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) promote
motivated behavior, and there is evidence to suggest that they interact within neural circuitry …

Abstract Activity of the serotonin 6 (5-HT 6) receptor impacts food intake and body weight in
animal models and has also shown potential as a target for treatment of anhedonia, a …

Overconsumption, or eating beyond the point of homeostasis, is a key feature in the
development of obesity. Although people are consuming beyond the point of homeostasis …

Despite the prevalence of alcohol use, only a subset of individuals develop alcohol use
disorder (AUD). Continued use despite known social, occupational, and medical …

Declarations of interest: none Page 40 40 CHAPTER II PROOPIOMELANOCORTIN
PROJECTIONS TO THE NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS MODULATE ACQUISITION AND …