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Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Two Different Real-Time Place Preference Paradigms Using Optogenetics within the Ventral Tegmental Area of the Mouse
Published on: February 12, 2020
Direct activation of the ventral striatum in anticipation of aversive stimuli
Jimmy Jensen1, Anthony R McIntosh, Adrian P Crawley
1PET Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Baycrest Geriatric Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. shitij_kapur@camh.net
Abstract:
The brain "reward" system, centered on the limbic ventral striatum, plays a critical role in the response to pleasure and pain. The ventral striatum is activated in animal and human studies during anticipation of appetitive/pleasurable events, but its role in aversive/painful events is less clear. Here we present data from three human fMRI studies based on aversive conditioning using unpleasant cutaneous electrical stimulation and show that the ventral striatum is reliably activated. This activation is observed during anticipation and is not a consequence of relief after the aversive event. Further, the ventral striatum is activated in anticipation regardless of whether there is an opportunity to avoid the aversive stimulus or not. Our data suggest that the ventral striatum, a crucial element of the brain "reward" system, is directly activated in anticipation of aversive stimuli.
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