In today's fast-paced world, the realms of fitness and gaming have captured the imaginations and routines of millions. The psychological aspects that underlie these two seemingly disparate activities ...

We have long been told a simple story about reward: Dopamine is the "wanting" molecule that drives us toward goals, and opioids are the "liking" molecules that provide the hit of pleasure once we get ...

A new study is challenging one of neuroscience’s most enduring ideas: that the brain’s reward system exists to make us feel good. Instead, researchers argue that it is built to optimize energy.