About this Research Topic

Background

The neural and psychological processes mediating reward and reward-mediated learning have attracted a great deal of attention in the psychological and neurobiological literature. The advent of sophisticated neural circuit manipulation techniques, cell-type-specific recording technologies and the new theories of reward, open new avenues for applying this knowledge to particular pathologies where reward processing dysfunctions play a core role. This Research Topic aims to gather relevant and current knowledge about the neurobehavioural mechanisms of reward both from a theoretical and technical point of view, emphasizing potential clinical applications. Research articles and reviews about reward-related brain circuits, novel computational models of reward processing, reward dysfunction and psychopathology, substance and behavioral addictions, the application of optogenetics, chemogenetics, cell- and circuit-specific labelling techniques to the psychobiology of reward, are particularly welcome.This Research Topic aims to publish breakthrough findings encompassing how neurobehavioral advances are being combined to enhance our understanding of the behavioral and neural mechanisms of motivation and reward and their implications in motivational dysfunctions, which are a core feature of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, substance use disorders, and eating disorders.Work can cover studies in animals and/or humans, as well as theoretical concepts dealing with the interplay between motivation/reward and psychopathology. All types of papers are welcome, i.e., original research articles, brief research report articles, systematic review articles, review articled, mini review articles, methods articles, technology reports, hypothesis and theory articles, perspective articles, and opinion articles.We welcome manuscripts addressing the following themes:1. Behavioral and mechanistic investigations of motivation/reward;2. Anatomical description of the brain circuits underlying motivation and reward and their implications in psychopathology;3. Neurobehavioral pharmacology of motivation/reward;4. The development of animals models to research the neurobehavioral mechanisms of motivation/reward;5. Sex differences in the association between motivation/reward and psychopathology;6. Individual differences and environmental/social influences on the neurobehavioral mechanisms of motivation/reward;7. Neuroimaging findings that link motivation/reward with psychopathology.

Keywords: Reinforcement Learning, Conditioned Reinforcement, Incentive Motivation, Limbic System, Behavior, Brain Reward, Animal Models, Reward Dysfunction, Psychopathology, Drug Addiction, Motivation, Reinforcement

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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