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Updated: May 11, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
Published on: February 20, 2019
[Neurobiology of behavioral addictions]
F Kiefer1, M Fauth-Bühler, A Heinz
1Klinik für Abhängiges Verhalten und Suchtmedizin, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, Mannheim, Germany. falk.kiefer@zi-mannheim.de
Abstract:
Reward learning represents a crucial mechanism in the acquisition and maintenance of addictive behavior. The underlying neurobiological foundations and associated neurobiological pathways are identified in this review and similarities between substance abuse and behavioral addictions will be discussed. In the second section current neuroimaging findings on neurobiological mechanisms of pathological gambling and computer and internet addiction are discussed. The main focuses are on changes in neurocognitive processes, such as cue reactivity, reward and punishment processing and behavioral control.
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