Mesolimbic pathway
Mesolimbic Pathway
The Mesolimbic Pathway (pronunciation: meh-zo-lim-bic path-way) is a major component of the brain's reward system, and it is thought to play a key role in the processing of positive rewards, including substance-related rewards.
Etymology
The term "Mesolimbic" is derived from the Greek words "mesos" (middle) and "limbos" (border), referring to the pathway's location in the brain.
Anatomy
The Mesolimbic Pathway originates in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of the midbrain, from where neurons send axons to various parts of the brain, including the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), the Amygdala, the Hippocampus, and the Prefrontal Cortex.
Function
The primary role of the Mesolimbic Pathway is in reward processing. It is activated by rewarding stimuli, such as food, sex, and social interaction, and by drugs of abuse. The pathway is also involved in the perception of pleasure and motivation.
Clinical Significance
Dysfunction in the Mesolimbic Pathway has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders, including Schizophrenia, Depression, and Substance Use Disorder.
Related Terms
- Dopamine: A neurotransmitter that is a key player in the functioning of the Mesolimbic Pathway.
- Reward System: A group of neural structures responsible for incentive salience (i.e., motivation and "wanting", desire, or craving for a reward), associative learning (primarily positive reinforcement and classical conditioning), and positively-valenced emotions, particularly ones involving pleasure as a core component (e.g., joy, euphoria and ecstasy).
- Ventral Tegmental Area: A group of neurons located close to the midline on the floor of the midbrain which is a critical part of the circuitry of the brain that is related to the reward system.
- Nucleus Accumbens: A region in the basal forebrain rostral to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus which plays a significant role in the cognitive processing of motivation, pleasure, and reward and reinforcement learning.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mesolimbic pathway
- Wikipedia's article - Mesolimbic pathway
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