ventral striatum

The ventral striatum is the ventral part of the striatum, which is a major portion of the basal ganglia and functions as part of the reward system. It consists of the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. In non-primate species, the islands of Calleja are included. It is associated with the limbic system and has been implicated as a vital part of the circuitry for decision making and reward behaviors, including addiction.