Prize for cracking brain's 'feel good' system 三位科学家因破解大脑“奖赏系统”获奖_BBC

Prize for cracking brain's 'feel good' system 三位科学家因破解大脑“奖赏系统”获奖

媒体英语 Prize for cracking brain's 'feel good' system 三位科学家因破解大脑“奖赏系统”获奖

Play audio file 文字稿主要工作地点在英国的三位科学家被授予了享有盛誉的大脑奖（ The Brain Prize ），并共同领取了一百万欧元的奖金。他们对大脑“奖赏回路”的研究及解读揭示了我们为何想要去购物、吃饭甚至是登月的深层原因。获得回报是我们能保持生命力的必要因素之一，但失去控制的大脑奖赏中心会导致一系列无节制的强迫性行为。请听 Fergus Walsh 的报道。

Should I eat in that restaurant? Should I apply for a new job? Where should I go on holiday? What underpins our decision-making is a chemical in the brain called dopamine, which is released whenever there is a reward, such as a pleasant taste. It helps motivate us, and has been essential through evolution for human and animal development.

A strong dopamine response can drive us to repeat the same behaviour or strive for greater success. The dopamine reward pathway in the brain can also spiral out of control leading to compulsive behaviour and drug addiction.

The three neuroscientists, who share the million-euro prize given by the Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark, are all based in the UK, which has a track record of world-leading brain research. Their work will help in the development of treatments for patients with psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia where the reward system goes wrong.