 Regardless, these studies suggest a critical role for reinforcement in the dorsal striatum, as opposed to the striatum only serving a role in movement control.The direct pathway of the ventral striatum within the basal ganglia mediates reward-based learning and appetitive incentive salience, which is assigned to rewarding stimuli.The indirect pathway of the ventral striatum within the basal ganglia mediates aversion-based learning and aversive motivational salience, which is assigned to aversive stimuli.