The Neuropharmacological Basis of Reward

by Liebman, Jeffrey M.; Cooper, Steven J.

• ISBN13: 9780198521761
• ISBN10: 0198521766
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1989-03-02
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This volume reviews recent major advances in reinforcement and behaviour. The contributors, all prominent physiological psychologists and behavioural pharmacologists, have extensively analysed current research on drugs, brain neurotransmitters, and reinforcement in animals. The book documents convergent evidence that implicates the nucleus accumbens and its dopaminergic afferents in reward. Controversial themes include the identity of the neurons mediating intracranial self-stimulation, and whether or not non-dopaminergic neurons can independently mediatereinforcement. Exciting new technical advances, such as conditioned place preferences, intracranial microinjection, and self-administration of drugs, as well as advanced new techniques for measuring the specificity of drug effects on reinforcement, are thoroughly explained and future research directionsoutlined.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Pharmacological Basis of ICSS

Neuroanatomical Basis of ICSS

Neuronal Basis of ICSS

Drugs as Reinforcers

Neuroanatomical Substrates of Self-Administration

Conditioned Place Preference, G. D. Carr

Neurotransmitters in Operant Reinforcement

The Brain and Reward

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