Dopamine, Behavioral Economics, and Effort

doi:10.3389/neuro.08.013.2009

Paper

Dopamine, Behavioral Economics, and Effort

Published Jun 17, 2009 · J. Salamone, M. Correa, Andrew M. Farrar

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

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266

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9

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Abstract

There are numerous problems with the hypothesis that brain dopamine (DA) systems, particularly in the nucleus accumbens, directly mediate the rewarding or primary motivational characteristics of natural stimuli such as food. Research and theory related to the functions of mesolimbic DA are undergoing a substantial conceptual restructuring, with the traditional emphasis on hedonia and primary reward yielding to other concepts and lines of inquiry. The present review is focused upon the involvement of nucleus accumbens DA in behavioral activation and effort-related processes. Viewed from the framework of behavioral economics, the effects of accumbens DA depletions and antagonism on food-reinforced behavior are highly dependent upon the work requirements of the instrumental task, and DA depleted rats are more sensitive to increases in response costs (i.e., ratio requirements). Moreover, interference with accumbens DA transmission exerts a powerful influence over effort-related choice behavior. Rats with accumbens DA depletions or antagonism reallocate their instrumental behavior away from food-reinforced tasks that have high response requirements, and instead these rats select a less-effortful type of food-seeking behavior. Nucleus accumbens DA and adenosine interact in the regulation of effort-related functions, and other brain structures (anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, ventral pallidum) also are involved. Studies of the brain systems regulating effort-based processes may have implications for understanding drug abuse, as well as energy-related disorders such as psychomotor slowing, fatigue or anergia in depression and other neurological disorders.

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Study Snapshot

Nucleus accumbens dopamine plays a crucial role in behavioral activation and effort-related processes, with its effects influenced by work requirements and effort-related choice behavior.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Dopamine, Behavioral Economics, and Effort

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References

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Citations

Modular Maximization Theory: A functional account of economic behavior in laboratory animal models with applications to drug-seeking behavior

Modular Maximization Theory (MMT) provides a comprehensive framework for understanding instrumental behavior in laboratory animal models, with potential applications in understanding human drug abuse.

A novel alcohol+nicotine co-use self-administration procedure reveals sex differences and differential alteration of mesocorticolimbic TLR- and cholinergic-related neuroimmune gene expression in rats.

Alcohol and nicotine co-use in rats leads to brain regional and sex differences, suggesting targeting nicotinic 7 may be a novel strategy for treating alcohol and nicotine co-dependence.

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Dopamine, activation of ingestion and evaluation of response efficacy: a focus on the within-session time-course of licking burst number

The within-session time-course of licking burst number is an important behavioral substrate for studying mechanisms governing ingestion, behavioral activation, and evaluation processes, potentially aiding in drug effects on ingestion.

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