Núcleo accumbens y el sistema motivacional a cargo del apego

Abstract

The concept of attachment involves the pursuit of proximity of both a figure linked, as a partner. For that to happen there must be a motivational system for innate social interaction in all mammals including humans. This motivational system has its seat on the dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic pathway, known as the ̃reward̃ pathway and is where the Nucleus Accumbens plays a key role. This pathway would be selected and highly conserved by evolution as a mechanism for perpetuating genetics. There is a great influence of prosocial neuropeptides Oxitocin (OT) and Vasopressin (ADH) in this way. These are released into socio-sexual experiences, which can be demonstrated in the paradigms of adult-adult attachment (pair bonding) and mother and child attachment. The path of motivation cast into critical periods of development, leaving it vulnerable to what happens in the environment and its damage or disease, hence, would leave traces more or less stable throughout the life cycle of the individual. This could be a initial factor to psychopathology from ̃attachment disorder̃ to ̃addictioñ to drugs. The motivation could also be useful as a endophenotype.