High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! In neuroscience, the reward system is a collection of brain structures which attempts to regulate and control behavior by inducing pleasurable effects.A psychological reward is a process that reinforces behavior ? something that, when offered, causes a behavior to increase in intensity. Reward is an operational concept for describing the positive value an individual ascribes to an object, behavioral act or an internal physical state. Primary rewards include those that are necessary for the survival of the species, such as food, water, and sex. Some people include shelter in primary reward. Secondary rewards derive their value from the primary reward and include money, pleasant touch, beauty, music etc. The functions of rewards are based directly on the modification of behavior and indirectly on the sensory properties of rewards. For instance, altruism may induce a larger psychological reward, although it doesn't cause sensations. Rewards are generally considered more effective than punishment in enforcing positive behavior.