Motivational processes are complex and multifaceted, with both directional and activational
aspects. Behavioral activation and exertion of effort are functions that enable organisms to …

Nucleus accumbens dopamine is known to play a role in motivational processes, and
dysfunctions of mesolimbic dopamine may contribute to motivational symptoms of …

Mental fatigue reflects a change in psychobiological state, caused by prolonged periods of
demanding cognitive activity. It has been well documented that mental fatigue impairs …

Motivation has been defined as the process that allows organisms to regulate their internal
and external environment, and control the probability, proximity and availability of stimuli. As …

Anhedonia is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), the neurobiological
mechanisms of which remain poorly understood. Despite decades of speculation regarding …

What roles do mesolimbic and neostriatal dopamine systems play in reward? Do they
mediate the hedonic impact of rewarding stimuli? Do they mediate hedonic reward learning …

Emotions are multifaceted, but a key aspect of emotion involves the assessment of the value
of environmental stimuli. This article reviews the many psychological representations …

Deciding what to do and when to move is vital to our survival. Clinical and fundamental
studies have identified basal ganglia circuits as critical for this process. The main input …

Studies addressing behavioral functions of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens septi
(NAS) are reviewed. A role of NAS DA in reward has long been suggested. However, some …

Given two rewarding stimuli, animals tend to choose the more rewarding (or less effortful)
option. However, they also move faster toward that stimulus [1–5]. This suggests that reward …