The central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) mediates positively-valenced reward motivation as
well as negatively-valenced fear. Optogenetic or neurochemical stimulation of CeA circuitry …

The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) helps translate learning into motivation, and
here, we show that opioid stimulation of CeA magnifies and focuses learned incentive …

Choosing one reward above another is important for achieving adaptive life goals. Yet
hijacked into excessive intensity in disorders such as addiction, single-minded pursuit …

Highlights•Central amygdala circuits mediate defensive and appetitive responses.•Central
amygdala circuit activity is controlled by local inhibitory interactions.•Central amygdala …

The central amygdala (CeA) orchestrates adaptive responses to emotional events. While
CeA substrates for defensive behaviors have been studied extensively, CeA circuits for …

Behavioral responses to environmental stimuli are dictated by the affective valence of the
stimulus, good (positive valence) or bad (negative valence). These stimuli can innately elicit …

Motivational salience regulates the strength of goal seeking, the amount of risk taken, and
the energy invested, from mild to extreme. Emotional experiences promote highly persistent …

Rationale Amygdala-related circuitry helps translate learned Pavlovian associations into
appetitive and aversive motivation, especially upon subsequent encounters with cues …

Drug and behavioural addictions are characterized by an intense and focused pursuit of a
single reward above all others. Pursuit of the addictive reward is often compulsively sought …

Motivational salience regulates the strength of goal seeking, the amount of risk taken, and
the energy invested from mild to extreme. Highly motivational experiences promote highly …