Stress is a biological and psychological response experienced upon encountering a threat that we feel we do not have the resources to deal with.| Simply Psychology
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter primarily found in the brain, intestines, and blood. In psychology, serotonin plays a significant role in mood regulation, emotional well-being, sleep, appetite, and cognitive functions. Abnormalities in serotonin levels or its neural pathways are often associated with mood disorders like depression and anxiety.| Simply Psychology
The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is a small but powerful structure in the brain’s basal forebrain. It acts as a hub for processing reward, motivation, and pleasure. Think of it as the brain’s motivational switchboard—it helps us decide what feels good, what’s worth pursuing, and what behaviors to repeat.| Simply Psychology
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that play a vital role in how your brain and body communicate. They affect everything from your mood and memory to your heartbeat and breathing.| Simply Psychology
In classical conditioning, a conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly associated with an unconditioned stimulus, evokes a conditioned response.| Simply Psychology
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. It is characterized by signs such as difficulty with focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.| Simply Psychology
The brain's reward system is a network of structures responsible for pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement learning. Central to this system are the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc). When a rewarding stimulus is perceived, dopamine is released from the VTA, acting on the NAc, leading to feelings of pleasure. Dysfunctions in this pathway can underlie addiction and other behavioral disorders.| Simply Psychology