We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the Medial Forebrain Bundle?

By Andy Josiah
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 21,338
References
Share

The medial forebrain bundle is a collection of long projections of nerve cells called axons that plays an important role in the reward system. A collection of structures in the brain, the reward system is involved in producing pleasurable effects in order to regulate human behavior. For this reason, the medial forebrain bundle is sometimes referred to as the reward circuit. Medical researchers believe that this area is one of the primary circuits that affects human behavior.

Forming a huge part of the medial forebrain bundle is the midbrain tegmentum. This is part of the midbrain, or the mesencephalon — the part of the central nervous system (CNS) involved in functions such as hearing, vision and alertness — that extends horizontally from its substantia nigra to its cerebral aqueduct. The substantia nigra in particular contributes to functions such as addiction, learning and eye movement. The medial forebrain bundle also contains components of the limbic system, a collection of brain structures such as the amygdala, the limbix cortex and the hippocampus, which accommodate functions such as emotion, long-term memory, and olfaction, or the sense of smell.

The axons that form the medial forebrain bundle come from three areas: the basal olfactory region, the periamygdaloid cortex and the medial olfactory area. All areas are concerned with olfaction. The basal olfactory region refers to the basal cells, units from the innermost layer of the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin. The periamygdaloid cortex, also known as the periamygdaloid region, is part of a section of the brain called the rhinencephalon. The medial olfactory region, better known as the septal area or the septal nuclei, comprises structures located at the corpus callosum, a collection of neural fibers underneath the brain's cortex.

Passing to the lateral hypothalamus, which regulates certain functions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the medial forebrain bundle forms part of the mesolimbic pathway. One of the dopaminergic pathways of the brain, the mesolimbic pathway transfers the neurotransmitter dopamine between different areas of the brain. Dopamine is a chemical involved in functions such as movement and emotion, and its reduction is linked to the development of the degenerative CNS disorder called Parkinson's disease. A particular area of the mesolimbic pathway that the medial forebrain bundle runs to is the ventral tegmental area, a neural bundle that can be found near the midbrain's floor.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-the-medial-forebrain-bundle.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.