Amygdalostriatal projections in the neurocircuitry for motivation: a neuroanatomical thread through the career of Ann Kelley

► Ann Kelley studied functionally distinct direct vs. indirect amygdalostriatal pathways. ► The entire caudal striatum receives afferents from deep basal amygdalar nuclei. ► The rostral ventromedial striatum differentially receives amygdalar input. ► The ancient amygdala-to-striatum pathways participate in stimulus-response valuation. ► Plasticity in the pathways underlies addiction-related memory, craving and relapse.