Chapter 17 | PSYC 2044 - Psychology of Learning, Quizzes of Psychology

Download Chapter 17 | PSYC 2044 - Psychology of Learning and more Quizzes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Reward Learning in the Brain DEFINITION 1 Olds & Milner (1954)- found the first neural clues by putting electrodes into a rat's brain Reward pathway/system- a circuit of brain structures that regulates behavior by inducing pleasurable effects -when activated, it reinforces behavior Rewards- appetitive stimuli given to alter behavior TERM 2 Reward Pathway DEFINITION 2 The reward system mainly involves the mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways: Mesolimbic- goes from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens Mesocortical- connects the VTA to the frontal lobe The VTA is the primary release site for dopamine TERM 3 Dopamine DEFINITION 3 Found to be one of the main chemicals involved in sending pleasure signals TERM 4 Neurotransmitter DEFINITION 4 Chemicals that send signals from oneneuronto another across asynapse TERM 5 Application DEFINITION 5 Dopamine Involved in reinforcement Stronger response for unexpected rewards Plays a role in psychopathology addiction (eating, gambling, drugs, etc.) The most addictive drugs increase the dopamine released in the mesolimbic pathway Dopamine levels decrease during withdrawal