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Mesolimbic Pathway

Meaning

A critical dopaminergic neural circuit within the brain, often referred to as the “reward pathway,” that projects from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and other limbic structures, including the amygdala and hippocampus. This pathway is fundamentally involved in processing motivation, reinforcement, pleasure, and goal-directed behavior. It plays a significant, though indirect, role in hormonal health by modulating appetite, emotional response to stress, and the drive for physical activity.