Skip to main content

Neuro-Endocrine Reward System

Meaning

The Neuro-Endocrine Reward System is the complex, interconnected network of brain structures, neurotransmitters, and circulating hormones that collectively mediate the experience of pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement learning. This system is crucial for survival behaviors but is also highly susceptible to external manipulation, influencing goal-directed behavior and the formation of habits. Key components include the dopaminergic pathways and their modulation by stress and sex hormones.