Have you ever wondered what happens in your brain when you feel rewarded and process positive experiences? This question has captivated researchers for years and a recent study, titled “Dorsal Hippocampus to Nucleus Accumbens Projections Drive Reinforcement Via Activation Of Accumbal Dynorphin Neurons,” offers new insights into this topic. Published in Nature Communications, the research delves into the roles of two key brain areas: the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and how they interact to govern our pursuit of rewards and positive stimuli in various situations.
Think of the dHPC as a library in your brain that stores and manages memories, especially those related to places and experiences. On the other hand, the NAc acts like a processing center, sorting out what experiences feel rewarding and which ones do not. Together, these parts play a big role in why we do what we do, especially when it comes to seeking out things that make us feel good.
The research team, led by Jose Moron-Concepcion, PhD, Khairunisa Mohamad Ibrahim, PhD, and Nicolas Massaly, PhD, used advanced technology to map out how these two brain parts communicate with one another using techniques like optogenetics (using light to control cells), chemogenetics (using chemicals to control cells), and in-vivo electrophysiology (measuring brain activity in live animals). This helped them understand how the dHPC engage activity in the NAc to drive our behavior toward rewards.
The study found that activating certain cells in the dHPC could engage neuronal activity in the NAc to promote active seeking for rewards, such as sugar pellets. Interestingly, they discovered that a particular type of cell in the NAc, which contains a chemical called dynorphin, plays a key role in this process.
“This research opens new doors for understanding and potentially treating conditions like substance use disorders, where our sense of reward and pleasure gets disrupted,” said Dr Moron-Concepcion. “By pinpointing specific areas and functions in the brain, we can develop more targeted and effective treatments.”
This study is a step forward in unraveling the mysteries of how our brains guide us toward rewards. It provides a clearer picture of why we behave the way we do and lays the groundwork for future discoveries that could improve treatments for drug misuse or abuse.