The Role of Dopamine in Reward Seeking and Risk Assessment

Researchers have discovered that specific dopaminergic neurons in the brains of fruit flies play a crucial role in driving reward-seeking behavior, even in the face of adverse consequences. The study found that activation of these neurons, known as β′2 and γ4 DANs, led the flies to persistently seek rewards, such as sucrose, despite being subjected to electric shocks. The findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying reward-seeking behavior and could have implications for understanding substance use disorders in humans.