Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Behaviorism

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant factor...

Law of Effect

Law of Effect

B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle boxes...

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning, a key concept in behavioral psychology, involves using reinforcement and punishment to alter the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. B.F. introduced this type of conditioning. Skinner focused on voluntary behaviors and the consequences that follow them, influencing whether these behaviors will be strengthened or diminished.
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...

Purposive Learning

Purposive Learning

E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a bonus...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Hoffmann Reflex.

NeuroSci·2026

Same author

Multisystem regulation of reward and addiction: beyond the dopaminergic system.

Frontiers in pharmacology·2026

Same author

Restless Legs Syndrome: A Network Model of Iron-Dependent Neuromodulation-A Narrative Review.

Brain sciences·2026

Same author

Regulatory Variation at TERT and TERC Shows Limited Association with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease in Carriers of the Mexican Founder Mutation <i>PSEN1</i> A431E.

Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Safety and preliminary efficacy of Aurora: a pilot, non-randomized clinical trial of a culturally adapted digital cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for anxiety and depression in Mexico.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026

Same author

Quantum-Inspired and Non-Classical Approaches to Consciousness: Models, Evidence and Constraints.

Brain sciences·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Published on: November 10, 2010

Dopamine, learning, and reward-seeking behavior.

Oscar Arias-Carrión¹, Ernst Pŏppel

¹Human Science Center, FESTO-Program for Applied Knowing, Ludwig Maximilian University, Goethestrasse 31, 80336 Munich, Germany. arias@exp-neuro.de.

Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis

|March 7, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Dopamine (DA) neurons in the midbrain control movement, motivation, and cognition. Their dysfunction is linked to Parkinson's disease and other disorders, highlighting dopamine's role in reward and motivation.

More Related Videos

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Operant Sensation Seeking in the Mouse

Published on: November 10, 2010

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Simultaneous Detection of c-Fos Activation from Mesolimbic and Mesocortical Dopamine Reward Sites Following Naive Sugar and Fat Ingestion in Rats

Published on: August 24, 2016

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurobiology
Dopamine Research

Background:

Dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain are crucial for brain dopamine (DA) production.
DA plays vital roles in motor control, reward prediction error signaling, motivation, and cognition.
Cerebral DA depletion characterizes Parkinson's disease (PD), and DA dysfunction is implicated in schizophrenia, autism, ADHD, and addiction.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of dopaminergic neuron firing in reward anticipation and motivation.
To investigate the hypothesis that DA neuron activity acts as a motivational substance.

Main Methods:

Review of recent research on dopamine neuron firing patterns.
Analysis of evidence linking reward prediction errors to dopamine neuron activity.

Main Results:

Dopamine (DA) neuron firing increases when rewards exceed expectations.
This increased firing correlates with heightened desire or motivation towards the anticipated reward.

Conclusions:

Dopamine neuron activity may function as a motivational signal, particularly in response to unexpected rewards.
Understanding this mechanism offers insights into reward-seeking behaviors and motivational disorders.