Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att skapa en förståelse för hur processen ser ut då organisationer rekonstruerar sina belöningssystem. Metod: Studien har utgått från en kvalitativ metod med en abduktiv ansats. Studien är baserad på fyra semistrukturerade intervjuer med franchisetagare för mäklarorganisationer i Gävle. Resultat & Slutsats: Med en utgångspunkt i det empiriska materialet och teorin som grund har en modell utformats för att besvara hur samspelet mellan ledning och medarbetare påverkar rekonstruktionen av mäklarorganisationers belöningssystem. Denna modell kan redogöra för hur ledningen gör avvägningar mellan organisationens mål och medarbetarnas åsikter för att nå målkongruens. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien har bidragit med en förståelse för hur processen går till hos mäklarorganisationer gällande rekonstruktion av deras belöningssystem. Studien visar samspelet som finns mellan ledning och medarbetare och hur denna detta spelar en stor roll för rekonstruktionen. Studien skapar en förståelse för Principal-agentteorin och Kontingensteorins roll inom organisationer vid rekonstruktion av belöningssystem. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: På grund av att studien endast studerar en specifik bransch kan det med säkerhet inte svara på om resultatet hade varit detsamma om det applicerats inom en annan bransch. Förslag till vidare forskning är således att testa vår modell för att undersöka hur samspelet mellan ledning och medarbetare påverkar rekonstruktionen av organisationers belöningssystem inom andra branscher. / Aim: The aim with this study is to examine how the process looks like when organizations reconstruct their reward systems. Method: The study applies a qualitative research method with an abductive approach. The study is based on four semi-structured interviews with franchisees for real estate organizations in Gävle. Result & conclusions: Based on the empirical material and the theoretical background a model has been reconstructed to answer how the interplay between governance and coworkers affect the reconstruct of real estate organizations reward systems. With this model we can see how the governance makes trade-offs between the goals of the organizations and the coworkers’ opinions to achieve goal congruence. Contribution of the thesis: The study has contributed with an understanding for how the process works in real estate organizations regarding their reward system. The study shows the interplay between management and employees and how this dynamic plays a major role in the reconstruction. The study provides an understanding of the Principal Agent theory and Contingency Theory’s role within organizations when they reconstruct their reward systems. Suggestions for future research: Due to the fact that this study only examines one industry we cannot with certainty know if the results would be the same if applied in another environment. A suggestion for further research is thus to test our model to examine how the interplay between governance and coworkers affect the reconstruction of an organization's reward system within another industry.

Bakgrund och problem: Ett välkänt ekonomiskt styrmedel som används av företagsledare för att motivera anställda till att utföra prestationer som ligger i linje med företagets mål är belöningssystem. Belöningssystem fungerar olika i olika branscher och måste anpassas efter typ av verksamhet och anställda. Ett relativt outforskat område är industribranschen, här utförs ofta kärnprocessen av arbetarna på golvet vilket gör det intressant att se hur ett industriföretag jobbar med belöningssystem mot dessa typer av anställda och identifiera kritiska områden för belöningssystemets funktion mot arbetare då detta är ett ostuderat område. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att bidra med ökad förståelse om hur industriföretag jobbar med belöningssystem gentemot arbetare och vad dessa arbetare har för erfarenheter av detta system. Metod: En kvalitativ fallstudie är utförd på företaget Atlas Copco Power Technique Nordic som är verksamma inom industribranschen. Åtta respondenter har intervjuats genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Studien har anammat en abduktiv forskningsansats  Slutsats: Atlas Copco Power Technique Nordic använder sig av många olika belöningar i olika former för att motivera sina anställda, en kombination av icke-monetära belöningar är den främsta nyckeln för att skapa motivation hos anställda. Det framkommer att de monetära belöningarna exklusive lön inte har betydande påverkan på arbetarnas motivation och vilja att prestera. Det visar sig även att mål och rättvisa har en betydande roll vad gäller arbetarnas positiva inställning till belöningssystemet. / Background and problem: A well-known financial instrument used by business leaders to motivate employees to perform in line with the company's goal is the reward system. Reward systems work differently in different industries and must therefore be adapted to the type of business and type of employees in an organization. A relatively unexplored area is the industrial industry. Here the core processes are often performed by the blue-collar workers which makes it interesting to see how an industrial company works with reward systems towards these types of workers and identify critical areas for the reward system's function towards blue-collar workers as this is an unstudied area. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute to an increased understanding of how industrial companies work with reward systems towards blue-collar workers and what experience these workers have of this system. Method: A qualitative case study has been carried out at the company Atlas Copco Power Technique Nordic, which is active in the industrial industry. Eight respondents were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. The study has adopted an abductive research approach  Conclusion: Atlas Copco Power Technique Nordic uses many different rewards in different ways to motivate its employees, and the combination of non-monetary rewards is the main key to creating motivation in employees. It appears that the monetary rewards excluding wages have no meaningful effect on blue collar worker’s motivation and desire to perform. It also appears that goalsetting and justice play a significant role in terms of blue collar worker’s positive attitudes towards the reward system.

Bakgrund: Bygg- och anläggningsbranschen är en olycksdrabbad bransch. För att kunna motivera medarbetarna till arbete i riskfyllda arbetsmiljöer styr företag med belöningssystem. Belöningssystemet formar i sin tur den sociala och organisatoriska arbetsmiljön. Dock motiveras alla medarbetare av olika belöningar vilket i sin tur präglar arbetsplatserna och dess arbetsmiljö. Syfte: Syftet med denna studien är att undersöka samt analysera hur företagens belöningssystem formar den organisatoriska och sociala arbetsmiljön inom bygg- och anläggningsbranschen. Vidare är syftet att ta reda på hur den organisatoriska och sociala arbetsmiljön i sin tur formar den fysiska arbetsmiljön. Metod: Vi har använt oss av två forskningsdesigner; tvärsnittsstudie och flerfallstudier som vi har genomfört på 5 olika företag som är verksamma inom bygg- och anläggningsbranschen. Det empiriska materialet har samlat sin genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med 10 personer från dessa företag. Studien har en induktiv forskningsansats. Slutsats: Vi kom fram till att belöningssystemet är med och formar den organisatoriska och sociala arbetsmiljön, eftersom belöningar bland annat avgör hur motiverade medarbetarna är och hur de därmed integrerar med varandra. Sammanhållningen var också det som vi ansåg låg närmast kopplingen till den fysiska arbetsmiljön. / Background: The construction industry is accident-prone. To motivate employees to work in risky work environments, companies use reward systems. The rewardsystem in turn shapes the social and organizational work environment. However, all employees are motivated by different rewards, which in turn characterizes the workplace and its working environment. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze how companies’ reward systems shape the organizational and social work environment within the construction industry. Furthermore, the aim is to find out how the organizational and social work environment in turn shapes the physical work environment. Method: We have used two research designs; a cross-sectional study and multiple case studies that we have carried out at 5 different companies active in the construction industry. The empirical material has been collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 people from these companies. The study has an inductive research approach. Conclusion: We concluded that the reward system is involved in shaping the organizational and social work environment because, among other things, rewards determine how motivated the workers are and how they are thus intrigued with each other. Social cohesiveness was also what we considered to be the closest connection to the physical work environment.

Mémoire de maîtrise présenté en vue de l'obtention de la maîtrise en psychologie (M. Sc) / L'humeur, en tant qu’élément central dans notre perception du monde, englobe diverses émotions et affecte grandement le bien-être mental et physiologique. Une régulation efficace de l'humeur est vitale pour un fonctionnement quotidien normal et tout dérèglement peut mener à des troubles psychologiques majeurs comme la dépression. Au niveau cérébral, le système de récompense, en particulier le cortex préfrontal dorsolatéral gauche (CPFdl) et ses projections dopaminergiques, joue un rôle central dans la régulation de l'humeur et du plaisir. De nombreuses recherches montrent maintenant que l’écoute de la musique influence notre humeur, en agissant sur le système de récompense. En outre, la stimulation magnétique transcrânienne répétitive excitatrice (SMTr) ciblant le CPFdl gauche a donné des résultats prometteurs en modifiant l'humeur et l'activité du système de récompense, ainsi qu'en modulant le plaisir perçu et la motivation pendant l'écoute de la musique en augmentant l'excitabilité et la plasticité corticales. Cependant, les études existantes sur l'impact de la SMTr sur l'humeur des personnes en bonne santé aboutissent à des résultats contradictoires, et l'effet conjoint de la SMTr et de la musique sur l'humeur reste inexploré. Cette étude vise donc à déterminer si la SMTr excitatrice peut augmenter les effets de la musique sur l'humeur chez des volontaires sains. Plus précisément, nous souhaitons valider l'impact de la musique, de la SMTr et de leur application combinée sur l'humeur des participants. Vingt-quatre participants ont suivi quatre sessions expérimentales, comprenant soit la SMTr seule, l’écoute de la musique seule, la SMTr associée à l’écoute de la musique, ou les conditions placebo/sham. L'humeur des participants a été évaluée à l'aide d'un questionnaire sur l'humeur et d'enregistrements de l'activité électrodermale (EDA) avant et après les stimuli. Les résultats ont révélé une amélioration significative de l'humeur générale et de l'humeur positive, ainsi qu'une diminution significative de l'humeur négative au cours de la séance de musique seule, ce qui indique l'efficacité de la musique en tant qu'intervention pour améliorer l'humeur. À l'inverse, la séance de SMTr seule a entraîné une diminution de l'humeur positive et une augmentation de l'humeur négative, ce qui suggère un effet négatif potentiel de la SMTr sur l'humeur. . Dans la session SMTr + musique, on a observé une tendance à l'amélioration de l'humeur, ce que nous interprétons comme le fait que l'application de la SMTr sur le CPFdl gauche a entrainé une baisse de l'humeur, tandis que l'écoute de la musique contrecarrait cet effet en induisant une humeur positive et en réduisant l'humeur négative.En conclusion, les résultats de cette étude soulignent le potentiel de la musique en tant qu'intervention visant à améliorer l'humeur. En outre, les résultats suggèrent que la SMTr excitatrice ciblant le CPFdl gauche peut entraîner une baisse de l'humeur. Il est nécessaire de poursuivre les recherches dans ce domaine, notamment en explorant d'autres combinaisons de stimuli, telles que la SMTr excitatrice sur le CPFdl droit associée à la musique, afin de mieux comprendre les mécanismes sous-jacents et d'optimiser l'utilisation de ces interventions pour la régulation de l'humeur. Ces recherches supplémentaires permettront de mieux comprendre la modulation de l'humeur et d'améliorer l'efficacité des interventions dans ce domaine. / Mood, as a central element in our perception of the world, encompasses a variety of emotions and greatly affects mental and physiological well-being. Effective mood regulation is vital for normal daily functioning, and any disruption can lead to major psychological disorders such as depression. At the cerebral level, the reward system, in particular, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and its dopaminergic projections, plays a central role in regulating mood and pleasure. A large body of research now shows that listening to music influences our mood, by affecting the reward system. In addition, excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the left DLPFC has shown promising results in altering mood and the reward system activity, as well as modulating perceived pleasure and motivation during music listening by increasing cortical excitability and plasticity. However, existing studies on the impact of rTMS on mood in healthy individuals yield conflicting results, and the joint effect of rTMS and music on mood remains unexplored. This study aims to determine whether excitatory rTMS can enhance the effects of music on mood in healthy volunteers. More specifically, we aim to validate the impact of music, rTMS, and their combined application on participants' mood. Twenty-four participants completed four experimental sessions, comprising either rTMS alone, listening to music alone, rTMS + music, or placebo/sham conditions. Participants' mood was assessed using a mood questionnaire and electrodermal activity (EDA) recordings before and after the stimuli. Results revealed a significant improvement in overall mood and positive mood, as well as a significant decrease in negative mood during the music-only session, indicating the effectiveness of music as a mood-enhancing intervention. Conversely, the rTMS session alone resulted in a decrease in positive mood and an increase in negative mood, suggesting a potential negative effect of rTMS on mood. In rTMS + music session, there was a trend in mood improvement, which we interpret as meaning that applying rTMS to the left DLPFC resulted in a decrease in the mood while listening to music counteracted this effect by inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood. In conclusion, the results of this study underline the potential of music as a mood-enhancing intervention. In addition, the results suggest that excitatory rTMS targeting the left DLPFC may lead to a decrease in mood. Further research in this area is necessary, including exploring alternative combinations of stimuli, such as excitatory rTMS on the right DLPFC in conjunction with music to better understand the underlying mechanisms and optimize the use of these interventions for mood regulation. This additional research will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of mood modulation and enhance the effectiveness of interventions in this field.

What happens when resources get valuable and scarce? How is Intellectual Property dealing with market failures related to sub-patentable innovation or purely traditional knowledge with interesting applications? The protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources (TKGR) has been one of the major modern challenges in international IP law. The entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its implementation in national legislation has created more questions than the ones it answered. The objective of this dissertation is to assist in the evaluation of current national and regional implementation initiatives as well in the presentation and evaluation of different forms of entitlements that could be applicable in the case of TKGR. The dissertation has employed a theoretical framework for this evaluation, by combining the Coase Theorem and Rawls' theory of justice. The choice of these two theoretical models is not a random one. In order for the entitlement covering TKGR to be successful, it has to be efficient. It has to offer a stable and efficient marketplace where access to TKGR is possible without unnecessary frictions. However, efficiency could not be the only objective.  An entitlement focusing solely on efficiency would fall short of the needs and special considerations of TKGR trade. It would above all be counter to the objectives and major principles of the CBD, the “fair and equitable sharing of the benefits” and would certainly fail to address the very important North-South perspective.  Fairness is thus a necessary complement to the efficiency of the proposed entitlement. This dissertation proposes a thorough investigation of the special characteristics, of right-holders, subject-matter, market place as well as of the general expectations that an entitlement is supposed to fulfill. In parallel to that, it  looks into the meaning and scope of alternative entitlements in order to be able to propose the best alternative.

Bildgebende Studien haben gezeigt, dass bei schizophrenen Patienten Positivsymptome mit Veränderungen mesolimbischer Aktivierungsmuster unter Einbeziehung des Nucleus accumbens in Zusammenhang stehen. Hierbei ist von besonderem Interesse, dass der Nucleus accumbens Teil des Belohnungssystems ist, wobei die integrale „Bewertung“ belohnungsanzeigender Reize präfrontalen kortikalen Strukturen, insbesondere dem anterioren Zingulum, zuzurechnen ist. Bereits in der Antizipationsphase potentiell belohnender Reize, werden vermutlich zur Berechnung von Prädiktionsabweichungen dopaminerge Signale in der VTA generiert und modulieren den Nucleus accumbens. Es gibt zahlreiche Hinweise, dass glutamaterge Neurone des anterioren Zingulums die Dopaminausschüttung im Nucleus accumbens beeinflussen, und dass diese Modulation bei Erkrankungen wie der Schizophrenie beeinträchtigt ist. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, mittels funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie und Protonen Magnetresonanzspektroskopie, Hinweise über den Zusammenhang zwischen der glutamatergen Neurotransmission des ACC und belohnungsassoziierter Dopaminausschüttung im Nucleus accumbens bei 23 gesunden Probanden und bei 23 unmedizierten schizophrenen Patienten zu erlangen. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass die gegenseitige Modulation von anteriorem Zingulum und Nucleus accumbens bei schizophrenen Patienten gestört ist. Dieses und weitere Ergebnisse wurden im theoretischen Rahmen der NMDA-Rezeptor-Hypoaktivität und einer gestörten Balance zwischen Dopamin-D1- und Dopamin-D2-Rezeptor-Aktivität als pathophysiologische Korrelate schizophrener Erkrankungen diskutiert. / Imaging studies have demonstrated that for schizophrenic patients a correlation exists between positive symptoms and changes in the patterns of mesolimbic activity. Especially the changes in the ncl. accumbens (Nac) were interpreted in connection with the reward system. The signals indicating reward are thought to be processed by the anterior cingulum (ACC). These structures attribute meaning to the reward signals. In the anticipation phase of a potentially rewarding stimulus, dopaminergic signals from the VTA are generated in prediction of expected or aberrant outcome, thus modulating the Nac. Data indicate a direct modulation of the Nac. by glutamatergic neurons of the anterior cingulum. A major aim of this thesis is to establish a connection between the reward associated dopaminergic signals of the ncl. accumbens and the glutamatergic projections of the acc in unmedicated schizophrenic patients and healthy controls. The methods included measurements of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and functional MRI-scans done at a 3-Tesla tomograph. The paradigm applied was a modified version of the monetary incentive delay paradigm (Knutson et al. 2000). In healthy volunteers we found a significant negative correlation between the glutamate concentration in the ACC and the BOLD-contrast in the Nac (reward versus neutral), in contrast to the findings in schizophrenic patients. A significant higher BOLD-contrast was seen in the anticipation phase in healthy controls. The results were incorporated in a model of NMDA-R-Hypoaktivity. In addition to discussing the functional aspects for the structures involved the model was further expanded to include the hypothesis of a disturbed balance between dopamine-D1- and -D2-receptor activity and a dysfunctional hippocampal gating-process. The so constructed model suggests a profound striato-thalamo-cortical filter disturbance as the basis of the observed aberrations in the reward processing in schizophrenic disorders.

Inledning: Revisionsbranschen kan ses som en del av en profession med en tanke om att bidra till samhällsmässigt intresse genom att objektivt och oberoende förmedla ekonomisk information. En profession är beroende av kompetent och kvalificerad personal för att kunna upprätthålla god revisionskvalitet. För att utföra deras jobb ges stort utrymme för att själva bestämma över tillvägagångssättet för arbetet. Å andra sidan kan revisionsföretagens intressen ses som kommersiella med en tanke om att alla företag är vinstdrivna och styr för att uppnå affärsmässiga mål. Dessa två perspektiv kan ses som motstridiga och står i konflikt till varandra, men som båda måste tas hänsyn till och är viktiga för byråns överlevnad. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att få en förståelse för hur revisionsbyråer använder incitament för att hantera problematiken kring kommersialism och professionalism. Metod: En kvalitativ studie har genomförts på tre företag i revisionsbranschen. Empirin har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Slutsats: Studien visar att företagen fungerar som en hybrid och styr för både kommersialism och professionalism beroende på den givna situationen, genom både finansiella och icke-finansiella incitament. Vi kan även se att företagens starka socialiseringsprocess bidrar till ett community för att säkerställa att kommersialism och subjektiva intressen inte kan ta över. / Introduction: The auditing industry can be seen as part of a profession with the idea of contributing to societal interest by objectively and independently conveying financial information. A profession is dependent on competent and qualified employees in order to maintain good audit quality. In order to do their job, there is room for themselves to decide on the approach to the work. On the other hand, the interests of the audit firms can be seen as commercial, with the idea that all companies are profit-driven and govern to achieve business goals. These two perspectives can be seen as contrasts and in conflict with each other, but both must be taken into account and are important for the agency's survival. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to gain an understanding of how audit firms use incentives to handle the problems of commercialism and professionalism. Method: A qualitative study has been conducted on three companies in the auditing profession. The empirical data has been collected through semi structured interviews. Conclusions: The study shows that the companies work as a hybrid and control both commercialism and professionalism depending on the given situation, through both financial and non-financial incentives. We can also see that the companies' strong socialization process contributes to a society to ensure that commercialism and subjective interests cannot take over.

In den letzten Jahren wurde es dank der Entwicklung moderner Bildgebungsverfahren möglich, die neuronalen Korrelate kognitiver Arbeitsprozesse teilweise aufzudecken und immer besser zu verstehen. Durch diese Fortschritte ist es heute möglich, diese identifizierten Systeme im Rahmen der Erforschung psychiatrischer Erkrankungen auf Dysregulationen zu untersuchen. Dabei wird seit einigen Jahren der Suche nach Endophänotypen eine tragende Rolle zuteil. Endophänotypen befinden sich dabei intermediär zwischen dem klinischen Phänotyp und dem für die Krankheit kodierenden Genotyp. Ihre Identifizierung soll in Zukunft dazu beitragen, das nach neuesten Erkenntnissen nicht mehr aktuelle psychiatrische Klassifikationssystem zu reformieren und damit eine krankheitsgerechtere Einteilung der einzelnen Diagnosegruppen zu gewährleisten. In diesem Rahmen wurden in der hier vorliegenden Arbeit drei verschiedene neuronale Systeme, die dem Belohnungssystem, dem verbalen sowie visuell-räumlichen Arbeitsgedächtnis und den Aufmerksamkeitsprozessen zugrunde liegen, in Bezug auf ihre Relevanz als potentielle Endophänotypen getestet. 20 erstgradige Angehörige von schizophrenen Patienten unterzogen sich in diesem Zuge einer etwa einstündigen fMRT- Untersuchung, während der sie Aufgaben zur Aktivierung dieser neuronalen Netzwerke lösen sollten. Die dabei gemachten Funde indizieren Dysregulationen verschiedener neuronaler Areale während aller Aufgaben. In Bezug auf vorherige Studien zu Endophänotypen sowohl mit Angehörigen als auch mit Schizophrenen konnten diese Funde in den wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund eingeordnet werden. Dabei konnten einige vielversprechende Beobachtungen festgehalten werden. Es ergaben sich potentielle Endophänotypen in Bereichen neuronaler Hirnstrukturen, die der Verarbeitung von kognitiven Kontrollprozessen zugrunde liegen. Des Weiteren konnte eine Dysregulation vor allem des rechten anterioren Thalamus konstatiert werden. Auch Hyperaktivierungen in Arealen des PFCs und im prämotorischen Kortex konnten ebenfalls durch Funde anderer Studien bestätigt werden. Zusammenfassend stehen die wissenschaftlichen Forschungen zur Endophänotypenfrage wohl noch am Anfang eines langen, jedoch sehr vielversprechenden Weges, der die aktuellen Klassifikationssysteme in Zukunft revolutionieren könnte. Die ersten Schritte sind getan und müssen nun in weiteren, umfangreicheren und möglicherweise auch präziseren Studien fortgeführt werden.

Syftet med denna uppsats var att fastställa om och hur arbetsuppgifternas komplexitetsgrad påverkar vad de anställda motiveras utav. Vidare undersöktes vilka preferenser de anställda med arbetsuppgifter av olika komplexitetsgrad hade gällande icke-monetära belöningar. Det studerades även till vilken grad cheferna var medvetna om deras anställdas preferenser. Utifrån det teoretiska perspektivet ska de anställda med komplexa arbetsuppgifter motiveras utav inre faktorer såsom beröm, utveckling och ökad självständighet. Anställda med icke-komplexa arbetsuppgifter ska då påverkas utav yttre faktorer som lön och spontana materiella belöningar. Studien genomfördes på två fallföretag med en population utav 60 anställda med icke-komplexa arbetsuppgifter samt 30 anställda med komplexa arbetsuppgifter med en svarsfrekvensen på 57%. Resultatet bekräftar att personer med komplexa arbetsuppgifter upplever inre motivation samt att personer med icke-komplexa arbetsuppgifter upplever yttre motivation. Det är snarare tillgången till en viss typ av motivation än själva arbetsuppgiftens komplexitetsgrad som avgör vad anställda motiveras av. / The purpose of this thesis was to determine whether and how the level of complexity within work task affects what employees are motivated by. Moreover, was the purpose to investigate what preferences the employees with different level of complexity in their work task had regarding non-monetary rewards. The degree to which the executives were aware of their employees preferences regarding non-monetary rewards was also examined. Based on theoretical perspectives should the employees with complex work tasks be motivated by intrinsic factors such as praise, growth and increased autonomy. The employees with non-complex work task should be affected by extrinsic factors such as salary and spontaneous material rewards. The study was carried out on two case companies with a population of 60 employees with non-complex work tasks and 30 employees with complex work tasks with a response rate of 57%. The results of this study confirm that people with complex work tasks experience intrinsic motivation whereas those with non-complex work tasks experience extrinsic motivation. The result concludes that it is the access to a certain kind of motivation rather than the complexity of work task which determines what the employee is motivated by.

A major challenge in the field of neuroscience is to link behavior with specific neuronal circuitries and cellular events. One way of facing this challenge is to identify unique cellular markers and thus have the ability to, through various mouse genetics tools, mimic, manipulate and control various aspects of neuronal activity to decipher their correlation to behavior. The Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2 (VGLUT2) packages glutamate into presynaptic vesicles for axonal terminal release. In this thesis, VGLUT2 was used to specifically target cell populations within the basal ganglia of mice with the purpose of investigating its connectivity, function and involvement in behavior. The motor and limbic loops of the basal ganglia are important for processing of voluntary movement and emotions. During such physiological events, dopamine plays a central role in modulating the activity of these systems. The brain reward system is mainly formed by dopamine projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the ventral striatum. Certain dopamine neurons within the VTA exhibit the ability to co-release dopamine and glutamate. In paper I, glutamate and dopamine co-release was targeted and our results demonstrate that the absence of VGLUT2 in dopamine neurons leads to perturbations of reward consumption and reward-associated memory, probably due to reduced DA release observed in the striatum as detected by in vivo chronoamperometry. In papers II and IV, VGLUT2 in a specific subpopulation within the subthalamic nucleus (STN) was identified and targeted. Based on the described role of the STN in movement control, we hypothesized that the mice would be hyperlocomotive. As shown in paper II, this was indeed the case. In paper IV, a putative reward-related phenotype was approached and we could show reduced operant-self administration of sugar and altered dopamine release levels suggesting a role for the STN in reward processes. In paper III, we investigated and identified age- and sex-dimorphisms in dopamine kinetics in the dorsal striatum of one of the most commonly used mouse lines worldwide, the C57/Bl6J. Our results point to the importance of taking these dimorphisms into account when utilizing the C57/Bl6J strain as model for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.