Dopamine signalling begins when a nerve cell releases dopamine into the space around another cell. Dopamine binds to receptors that change the receiving cell’s activity. The signal is shaped by release, receptor properties, reuptake and…Continue Reading
Dopamine-producing neurons form pathways that influence different brain regions. Common descriptions include nigrostriatal pathways involved in movement, mesolimbic and mesocortical pathways involved in motivation and cognition, and tuberoinfundibular signalling involved in prolactin regulation. These labels…Continue Reading
Dopamine helps the brain learn which outcomes are worth pursuing and how effort relates to reward. It contributes to prediction errors, which signal differences between expected and actual outcomes. Its role extends beyond feeling pleasure…Continue Reading
Salience is the significance assigned to an event or stimulus. It helps people decide what deserves attention and action. Dopamine contributes to this process, particularly in learning and responding to potentially important information. The aberrant-salience…Continue Reading
Imaging research supports increased dopamine synthesis and release capacity in parts of the striatum in many people with schizophrenia-related psychosis. This is one of the stronger biological findings in the field. It is more specific…Continue Reading