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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
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Pleasure, addiction, and hypocretin (orexin)

Ronald McGregor1, Thomas C Thannickal1, Jerome M Siegel1

  • 1Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Neurobiology Research, Veterans Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|July 6, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Hypocretin/orexin neurons regulate pleasure and arousal. Increased neuron numbers in human and mouse brains correlate with opioid use, suggesting a role in addiction.

Keywords:
AffectCataplexyDopamineHuman leukocyte antigenInflammationMelanin-concentrating hormoneNarcolepsyPleasureReward

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