The Reward Circuit: Linking Primate Anatomy and Human Imaging Suzanne N Haber and Brian Knutson The cortical-basal ganglia circuit is central to the reward system. Key structures include the anterior cingulate cortex, orbital prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, and midbrain dopamine neurons. Other structures, such as the dorsal prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and lateral habenular nucleus, also play roles in regulating the reward circuit. Connectivity forms a complex neural network that mediates reward processing. Advances in neuroimaging allow better spatial and temporal resolution, showing that human imaging results increasingly align with primate anatomy. The reward circuit is essential for incentive-based learning, appropriate responses to stimuli, and goal-directed behaviors. Animal and human studies aim to understand how brain regions in the circuit work together to evaluate stimuli and transform information into actions. Translating findings from animal studies to the human brain is a key challenge. While primate anatomy is well understood, human imaging is relatively new but has seen rapid growth. Studies focus on the prefrontal cortex and striatum in reward, using various paradigms and technologies, creating a complex literature. This review highlights promising lines of inquiry based on this literature. The reward circuit is embedded within the cortico-basal ganglia network and is crucial for developing and monitoring motivated behaviors. The basal ganglia were historically known for motor functions but now are understood to mediate a wide range of goal-directed behaviors, including emotions, motivation, and cognition. The discovery of the limbic loop within the basal ganglia provided evidence for other functional loops. The concept of parallel and segregated functional pathways through the basal ganglia has dominated the field for the past 20 years. Reward processing in the human prefrontal cortex involves various types of rewards, including primary and secondary rewards, which recruit prefrontal cortical activity. Studies show that the vmPFC is particularly involved in reward processing, while the dACC and dPFC also play roles. The OFC is often associated with reward in monkey studies and human lesion findings. Neuroimaging studies suggest that sensory and abstract rewards recruit the OFC, with sensory rewards activating more posterior OFC regions and abstract rewards activating more anterior OFC regions. Punishments tend to activate more lateral OFC regions. The improved temporal resolution of event-related fMRI allows tracking of when reward-related activation occurs, enabling separate examination of neural activation during reward anticipation and outcomes. The vmPFC is involved in processing diverse and abstract rewards compared with lateral OFC regions. The dACC and dPFC also play important roles in reward processing, though not in ways that translate directly to valuation. The dACC is involved in monitoring functions in potential conflict situations, while the dPFC is engaged in working memory for monitoring incentive-based behavioral responses. The ventral striatum (VS) isThe Reward Circuit: Linking Primate Anatomy and Human Imaging Suzanne N Haber and Brian Knutson The cortical-basal ganglia circuit is central to the reward system. Key structures include the anterior cingulate cortex, orbital prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, and midbrain dopamine neurons. Other structures, such as the dorsal prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and lateral habenular nucleus, also play roles in regulating the reward circuit. Connectivity forms a complex neural network that mediates reward processing. Advances in neuroimaging allow better spatial and temporal resolution, showing that human imaging results increasingly align with primate anatomy. The reward circuit is essential for incentive-based learning, appropriate responses to stimuli, and goal-directed behaviors. Animal and human studies aim to understand how brain regions in the circuit work together to evaluate stimuli and transform information into actions. Translating findings from animal studies to the human brain is a key challenge. While primate anatomy is well understood, human imaging is relatively new but has seen rapid growth. Studies focus on the prefrontal cortex and striatum in reward, using various paradigms and technologies, creating a complex literature. This review highlights promising lines of inquiry based on this literature. The reward circuit is embedded within the cortico-basal ganglia network and is crucial for developing and monitoring motivated behaviors. The basal ganglia were historically known for motor functions but now are understood to mediate a wide range of goal-directed behaviors, including emotions, motivation, and cognition. The discovery of the limbic loop within the basal ganglia provided evidence for other functional loops. The concept of parallel and segregated functional pathways through the basal ganglia has dominated the field for the past 20 years. Reward processing in the human prefrontal cortex involves various types of rewards, including primary and secondary rewards, which recruit prefrontal cortical activity. Studies show that the vmPFC is particularly involved in reward processing, while the dACC and dPFC also play roles. The OFC is often associated with reward in monkey studies and human lesion findings. Neuroimaging studies suggest that sensory and abstract rewards recruit the OFC, with sensory rewards activating more posterior OFC regions and abstract rewards activating more anterior OFC regions. Punishments tend to activate more lateral OFC regions. The improved temporal resolution of event-related fMRI allows tracking of when reward-related activation occurs, enabling separate examination of neural activation during reward anticipation and outcomes. The vmPFC is involved in processing diverse and abstract rewards compared with lateral OFC regions. The dACC and dPFC also play important roles in reward processing, though not in ways that translate directly to valuation. The dACC is involved in monitoring functions in potential conflict situations, while the dPFC is engaged in working memory for monitoring incentive-based behavioral responses. The ventral striatum (VS) is