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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
Published on: February 20, 2019
The genetic basis of individual differences in reward processing and the link to addictive behavior and social
1Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. j.yacubian@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Abstract:
Dopaminergic neurotransmission is widely recognized to be critical to the neurobiology of reward, motivation and addiction. Interestingly, social interactions and related behavior also activate the same neuronal system. Consequently, genetic variations of dopamine neurotransmission are thought influence reward processing that in turn may affect distinctive social behavior and susceptibility to addiction. This review focuses on advances made to date in an effort to link genetic individual variations and reward processing as a possible basis for addictive behaviors.
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