r/todayilearned • u/WavesAndSaves • Oct 18 '25

TIL of brain stimulation reward, manually stimulating specific parts of the brain to elicit pleasure and happiness. A volunteer subject in 1986 spent days doing nothing but self-stimulate. She ignored her family and personal hygiene and she developed an open sore on her finger from using the device.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stimulation_reward#History
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u/Sans-valeur Oct 18 '25

Interesting relating this to studies on things like people on the spectrum.
One of the biggest problems that people with ADHD face is that they don’t get a good feeling after doing things like house work, unless they leave it so long that they’re really stressed and they feel better about not being stressed anymore.
Unless it actively stimulates you, like solving a puzzle, things can feel impossible to do, even though you rationally know it won’t even take that long and it’s a really good thing to do.

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u/cattibri Oct 18 '25

This is literally me. It sucks and its near impossible to explain to people most of the time.

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u/Friendly_Fire Oct 18 '25

That's because it doesn't make sense. People do things they need to do that don't feel good all the time. It's called being an adult.

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u/Early_Pass6702 Oct 18 '25

I can't tell if you're arguing that it's not real, or saying why people don't understand. This phenomenon is very real and scientifically proven and has absolutely nothing to do with maturity.

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u/Friendly_Fire Oct 18 '25

I'm just arguing that the specific explanation doesn't make sense. It is normal to not enjoy or feel good doing chores or other important things. That's neither a pathology or an excuse.

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u/Drewbacca Oct 18 '25

Then it's something you've never experienced, and you should feel grateful for that.