Figure 6.

Summary of results and implications for NAc–VP limbic circuits of “liking” and “wanting.” Opioid hotspots in NAc and VP each can elevate “liking” reactions. Opioid enhancement of “liking” recruits the other hotspot and requires simultaneous participation by both, thus forming an interactive NAc–VP loop for amplification of taste “liking” reactions (red line). In contrast, for “wanting” stimulation, NAc can act independently of VP (but not vice versa), suggesting an alternative output route NAc opioid signals to eat (green line). The expanded inset is not to scale.