The mesolimbic pathway is the dopamine pathway from the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain to the nucleus accumbens and other limbic areas. It is often called the reward pathway.
| Location | From the ventral tegmental area through the medial forebrain bundle to the ventral striatum and limbic forebrain |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections | |
| Blood Supply | Posterior cerebral artery branches; Anterior cerebral and communicating artery perforators |
Signals reward, motivation and the value of actions, reinforcing behaviours that are rewarded.
Almost all addictive drugs increase dopamine in this pathway. Overactivity is linked to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, and reduced activity to loss of pleasure in depression. Exercise also increases dopamine signalling here.
Compulsive drug use driven by repeated surges of mesolimbic dopamine.
Psychosis associated with excess mesolimbic dopamine activity.
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