What Is the Nucleus Accumbens?

The nucleus accumben is located at the junction of the basal nucleus and the limbic system, outside and below the compartment, inside and below the caudate shell nucleus, connected to the anterior olfactory nucleus in the front, and finally the nucleus of the crestal bed. The olfactory nodule, also known as the nucleus accumbens, is a large nucleus in the basal forebrain and is a group of neurons in the corrugated body. The nucleus accumbens is thought to respond to stimuli such as food, sex, and drugs in the happy center of the brain. ^[1]

Nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumben is located at

The basic cell type of the nucleus accumbens is a medium-sized spiny neuron. Produced by this type of neuron

In the 1950s, James Olds and Peter Milner implanted electrodes in the compartment of rats, and found that rats chose to press a switch that stimulated the electrodes. The rats continued to choose this operation and even stopped eating and drinking, suggesting that this area is the euphoric center of the brain. However, the septum is not directly connected to the nucleus accumbens.

Although the nucleus accumbens has traditionally been studied for its role in addiction, it also plays an important role in reward systems such as food and sex. Studies have found that the nucleus accumbens is involved in the regulation of mood by music, [7] which may be the result of its regulation of dopamine release. The nucleus accumbens plays a role in rhythmic timing in the neurocognition of music and is thought to play a key role at the edge-motor interface (Mogensen).

In April 2007, two research teams reported the use of deep brain stimulation to treat several clinical depressions by inserting electrodes into the nucleus accumbens.

In July 2007, Jon-Kar Zubieta reported that the nucleus accumbens is the mechanistic center of the placebo effect.

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