Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
intra-cranial self stimulation, ICSS, overstimulation, brain reward system, electroencephalographic data
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Intra-cranial self stimulation (ICSS) has been well documented in both animal models and humans. Stimulation of various centers in the brain creates a very powerful reinforcement. Subjects will prefer ICSS to food, mating behavior, and drugs of abuse. One such pleasure center is the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) which functions as an information highway between several other pleasure mediating structures in the limbic system. Interestingly, constant stimulation of the MFB produces a highly dysphoric response. Animals respond with aversive behavior similar to pain avoidance. What is the electrophysiological change that mediates this reversal of pleasure to pain? In order to address this question, we established three criteria for analysis: Behavioral activity, electroencephalographic data (EEG), and single cell recordings in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), a brain region previously implicated in addiction and reinforcement.1
Recommended Citation
Stander, Lael J. and Steffensen, Dr. Scott C.
(2013)
"Intra-cranial Overstimulation of the Brain Reward System,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 355.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/355