Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

238
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
238
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

792
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...
792
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

423
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
423
Drug Dependence01:17

Drug Dependence

1.2K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.2K
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

246
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
246

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Low Reward and Heightened Threat Neural Activity are Both Associated with Heightened Anhedonia: A Transdiagnostic Perspective.

Research square·2026
Same author

Essential Information About Chronobiology and Chronotherapy for the Optimal Care of People With Bipolar Disorders: An Expert Consensus.

Bipolar disorders·2026
Same author

Test of the reward/circadian rhythm dysregulation model of risk for bipolar spectrum disorders at a micro time scale using multilevel moderated mediation.

Journal of psychopathology and clinical science·2026
Same author

Reward Sensitivity's Associations with Morningness-Eveningness and Other Circadian-Coupled Behavioral Phenomena: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional and Prospective Relationships.

Clinical psychology : a publication of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association·2026
Same author

Children's susceptibility to content generated by artificial intelligence.

Technology in society·2026
Same author

Striatal Social Reward Sensitivity Predicts Trust-Related Brain Responses Depending on Closeness and Depression.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
05:40

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans

Published on: April 28, 2022

3.2K

Decreased reward-related brain function prospectively predicts increased substance use.

Corinne P Bart1, Robin Nusslock2, Tommy H Ng1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Temple University.

Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|November 29, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Lower reward sensitivity in the brain

More Related Videos

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
08:05

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.7K
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
07:51

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder

Published on: June 18, 2018

10.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 11, 2025

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
05:40

The Motivation for Alcohol Reward: Predictors of Progressive-Ratio Intravenous Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans

Published on: April 28, 2022

3.2K
A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
08:05

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence

Published on: March 23, 2022

2.7K
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
07:51

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder

Published on: June 18, 2018

10.7K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global health issue linked to altered reward sensitivity.
  • The fronto-striatal neural circuit, including the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), ventral striatum (VS), and dorsal striatum (DS), underpins reward processing and motivation.
  • Existing research presents conflicting views on whether SUD is associated with heightened or diminished reward sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if brain activity during reward anticipation predicts future substance use patterns.
  • To examine the relationship between reward sensitivity, measured via fMRI, and subsequent substance use frequency and impairment.

Main Methods:

  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess brain activity during a monetary incentive delay (MID) task in 79 participants.
  • Participants underwent follow-up assessments of substance use frequency and impairment approximately 9.1 months later.
  • Region-of-interest analyses focused on brain activation in the VS and DS during the reward anticipation phase.

Main Results:

  • Reduced activation in the ventral striatum (VS) during reward anticipation was a significant predictor of increased substance use frequency at follow-up.
  • Reduced activation in the dorsal striatum (DS) also predicted increased substance use frequency, though this did not reach statistical significance after multiple comparisons correction.
  • These findings were robust after adjusting for baseline substance use and prior SUD diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • The study supports the reward hyposensitivity theory, indicating that diminished reward-related brain function is a risk factor for developing and maintaining problematic substance use.
  • These results underscore the critical role of the fronto-striatal reward circuit in the pathophysiology of addiction.
  • Understanding these neural mechanisms can inform targeted interventions for substance use disorders.