The really interesting thing about the nucleus accumbens, however, is that it learns what’s pleasurable and how to anticipate getting it. For example, when you eat a Snickers for the first time, dopamine is released in the nucleus accumbens. The next time you pick up a Snickers, dopamine is released as soon as you open the wrapper. And the next time, dopamine is released simply when you see the Snickers from across the room. Pretty soon, dopamine is released as soon as you walk into the store, just from the anticipation of seeing it, opening it, and eating it.
