Introducing a new, positively reinforcing behavior establishes a competing neural reinforcement pathway that displaces maladaptive reward associations.

Study: Towards an unconscious neural reinforcement intervention for common fears

Scientists used brain scans and rewards to train people’s brains to stop fearing spiders and snakes without making them face those fears directly. This shows that giving the brain a new reward can overwrite old fear patterns.

Study: Reward Network Modulation as a Mechanism of Change in Behavioral Activation

When people start doing more enjoyable, positive activities, their brain slowly learns to prefer those over unhealthy habits — like how getting outside for a walk can make you care less about scrolling on your phone all day.

Study: Beyond distress relief: the Anhedonic Subtype of nonsuicidal self-injury and the imperative for Positive Affect Treatment

When people feel empty or numb, they sometimes hurt themselves just to feel something. This study says instead of just trying to stop the pain, we should help them find new, healthy things that feel good — and those good feelings might replace the urge to self-harm by rewiring their brain’s reward system.