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Neurochemical Reward System

Meaning

The interconnected network of neural structures and their associated neurotransmitters, primarily dopamine, that processes the motivational salience of stimuli, drives goal-directed behavior, and facilitates reinforcement learning. This system, encompassing the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), and parts of the prefrontal cortex, is the brain’s fundamental mechanism for signaling value and promoting the repetition of survival-enhancing actions. In the wellness domain, it dictates the ease with which healthy behaviors are adopted and maintained.