Reward pathway
| Pathway | Structures | Reward behavior | Addictive behavior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending (mesolimbic) | Ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens (shell, core) | Desire to repeat a behavior | Craving a drug or behavior |
| Descending | Extended amygdala to ventral tegmental area | Emotional intensity linked to a behavior or experience | Intoxication linked to a drug, behavior, or experience |
| Further ascending | Core nucleus accumbens to ventral pallidum | Positive reinforcement of behavior | Negative reinforcement of a drug-associated behavior |
| Shell nucleus accumbens to prefrontal cortex to core nucleus accumbens | |||
| Interneuron | Ventral tegmental area | Reinforcing positive reinforcement | Reinforcement of negative reinforcement of drug use |
