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Dissecting components of reward: 'liking', 'wanting', and learning
Kent C Berridge1, Terry E Robinson, J Wayne Aldridge
1Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109-1043, USA. berridge@umich.edu <berridge@umich.edu>
Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|January 24, 2009
Summary
Researchers are uncovering the psychological aspects of reward, including
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Significant advancements have been made in understanding reward psychology.
- Neural mechanisms underlying reward are increasingly being delineated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight key psychological components of reward.
- To explore the neurobiological underpinnings of reward processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent findings on reward components.
- Focus on 'liking', 'wanting', and learning.
Main Results:
- Identified three dissociable psychological components of reward: 'liking' (hedonic impact), 'wanting' (incentive salience), and learning (predictive associations and cognitions).
- Established links between these components and their neural substrates.
Conclusions:
- Understanding reward components and their neurobiology is crucial.
- Potential for improved treatments for mood and motivation disorders, including depression, eating disorders, and addiction.
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