Algorithm Reveals How a Small Region in Our Brain Plays a Key Role in Motivation

Algorithm reveals how a small region in our brain plays a key role in motivation

A small region of the brain, known as the ventral tegmental area (VTA), plays a key role in how we process rewards. It produces dopamine, a neuromodulator that helps predict future rewards based on contextual cues. A team from the universities of Geneva (UNIGE), Harvard, and McGill has shown that the VTA goes even further: It encodes not only the anticipated reward but also the precise moment it is expected.

Study Reveals Ventral Tegmental Area Encodes Timing of Expected Rewards Alongside Value

Researchers have identified the ventral tegmental area […] The post Study Reveals Ventral Tegmental Area Encodes Timing of Expected Rewards Alongside Value first appeared on GeneOnline News. The post Study Reveals Ventral Tegmental Area Encodes Timing of Expected Rewards Alongside Value appeared first on GeneOnline News.