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 …

The hypothesis that dopamine is important for reward has been proposed in a number of
forms, each of which has been challenged. Normally, rewarding stimuli such as food, water …

Background Over the last several years, it has become apparent that there are critical
problems with the hypothesis that brain dopamine (DA) systems, particularly in the nucleus …

Although the Skinnerian 'Empirical Law of Effect'does not directly consider the fundamental
properties of stimuli that enable them to act as reinforcers, such considerations are critical for …

The discovery that the brain contains neurons utilizing dopamine (DA) as their transmitter
has led to studies of the behavioral function of these neurons. Changes in overall level of …

Hundreds of publications and dozens of reviews and conferences have been devoted to
dopamine and dopaminergic neurons over the last three decades. From molecular …

Neuroleptic drugs disrupt the learning and performance of operant habits motivated by a
variety of positive reinforcers, including food, water, brain stimulation, intravenous opiates …

Two experiments were conducted to study the role of dopamine in the performance of a
novel cost/benefit procedure. Rats were trained on a T-maze task in which one arm …

An important aspect of motivated behavior is that organisms will perform complex
instrumental behaviors to gain access to stimuli such as food. In the present study, food …

In recent years, considerable emphasis has been placed upon the putative role of nucleus
accumbens dopamine systems in appetitive motivation and positive reinforcement …