https://mindlab-blog-drafts.pages.dev/tags/ventral-striatum/Recent content in Ventral-Striatum on MindLAB Neuroscience — Draft ReviewHugo -- 0.156.0en-us2026 Dr. Sydney Ceruto — MindLAB NeuroscienceWed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://mindlab-blog-drafts.pages.dev/posts/antidepressants-not-working-for-motivation/Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://mindlab-blog-drafts.pages.dev/posts/antidepressants-not-working-for-motivation/<h1 id="effort-reward-computation-in-depression-why-your-brain-decides-nothing-is-worth-doing">Effort-Reward Computation in Depression: Why Your Brain Decides Nothing Is Worth Doing</h1> <p><img alt="Ventral striatum and effort-reward computation architecture — Dr. Sydney Ceruto, MindLAB Neuroscience." loading="lazy" src="https://mindlab-blog-drafts.pages.dev/images/posts/antidepressants-not-working-for-motivation-hero.webp"></p> <p>Antidepressants often fail at restoring motivation because the mood circuit and the effort-reward computation circuit are architecturally distinct. SSRIs lift the emotional weight; the ventral striatum, anterior cingulate cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex continue to overestimate effort and undervalue anticipated reward. Mood improves. Initiation does not. The veto sits in a different system entirely.</p>