The role of the human ventral striatum and the medial orbitofrontal cortex in the representation of reward magnitude - An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of passive reward expectancy and outcome processing

► ALE meta-analysis revealed regional differences for reward anticipation and consumption. ► Ventral striatum was generally activated by passive anticipation and receipt of reward. ► mOFC/VMPFC was specifically activated by reward receipt, but not by its prediction. ► Both ventral striatum and mOFC/VMPFC represent passive reward magnitude.