Self-disclosure was strongly associated with increased activation in brain regions that form the mesolimbic dopaminesystem, including the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area.
Generally, acts of self disclosure were accompanied by spurts of heightened activity in brain regions belonging to the meso-limbic dopaminesystem, which is associated with the sense of reward and satisfaction from food, money or sex.
The hyperlearning hypothesis posits that for schizophrenics, this system of classifying experiences breaks down because of excessive levels of dopamine.