Identification of the subventricular tegmental nucleus as brainstem reward center

Zichó, Krisztián [Zichó, Krisztián (Neurobiológia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; School of PhD Studies (SU); Balog, Boldizsár Zsolt [Balog, Boldizsár Zsolt, author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; Roska Tamás Műszaki és Természettudományi Dokto... (PPCU / ITK); Sebestény, Réka Z [Sebestény, Réka Zsófia (Neurobiólógia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; Brunner, János [Brunner, János (Neurofarmakológia), author] Laboratory of Cellular Neuropharmacology; Takács, Virág [Tresóné Takács, Virág (Neurobiológia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; Barth, Albert M [Barth, Albert (Idegtudomány), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; Seng, Charlotte; Orosz, Áron [Orosz, Áron (Neurobiológia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; School of PhD Studies (SU); Aliczki, Manó [Aliczki, Manó (Magatartásélettan), author] Translational Behavioural Neuroscience Group; Sebők, Hunor [Sebők, Hunor (neurobiológia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research; Mikics, Eva [Mikics, Éva (Neuroendokrinológ...), author] Translational Behavioural Neuroscience Group; Földy, Csaba; Szabadics, János [Szabadics, János (Celluláris neurof...), author] Laboratory of Cellular Neuropharmacology; Nyiri, Gábor ✉ [Nyiri, Gábor (Neurobiológia), author] Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Research

English Article (Journal Article) Scientific
Published: SCIENCE 0036-8075 1095-9203 387 (6732) Paper: eadr2191 , 16 p. 2025
  • X. Földtudományok Osztálya: A
  • Regionális Tudományok Bizottsága: A nemzetközi
  • Szociológiai Tudományos Bizottság: A nemzetközi
  • SJR Scopus - History and Philosophy of Science: D1
Identifiers
Fundings:
  • Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Fund)(133837)
  • Hungarian Brain Research Program (NAP 2.0)(2017–1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002)
  • Hungarian Brain Research Program(NAP2022-I-1/2022)
  • Mesterséges Intelligencia Nemzeti Laboratórium(RRF-2.3.1- 21-2022-00004)
  • MILAB(RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00004) Funder: NRDIO
  • National Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience (TINL)(RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00011)
  • (Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union within the framework of Programme Széchenyi Plan Plus grant number RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00011)
  • (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00011)
  • Funding details: European Research Council, ERC(ERC-CoG 772452)
  • (FEIF/646-4/2021-ITM_SZERZ)
  • (ÚNKP-23-3-I-SE-48)
  • ÚNKP(22-3-II-SE-7)
  • ÚNKP(23-3-II-SE-24)
  • ÚNKP(23-2-II-SE-25)
  • EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP16-2017-00009(EFOP)
Rewards are essential for motivation, decision-making, memory, and mental health. We identified the subventricular tegmental nucleus (SVTg) as a brainstem reward center. In mice, reward and its prediction activate the SVTg, and SVTg stimulation leads to place preference, reduced anxiety, and accumbal dopamine release. Mice self-stimulate the SVTg, which can also be activated directly by the neocortex, resulting in effective inhibition of the lateral habenula, a region associated with depression. This mechanism may also explain why SVTg suppression induces aversion and increases fear. The translational relevance of these findings is supported by evidence in the rat, monkey, and human brainstem, establishing SVTg as a key hub for reward processing, emotional valence, and motivation.
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2026-10-05 23:50