The ventral tegmental area is a group of dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain, just medial to the substantia nigra. It is the source of the brain main reward pathways.
| Location | Floor of the midbrain tegmentum, medial to the substantia nigra and near the interpeduncular fossa |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections | |
| Blood Supply | Posterior cerebral artery branches; Basilar artery perforators |
Signals reward and its prediction, motivating behaviour and learning.
Addictive drugs increase dopamine release from this area. Overactivity of its pathways is linked to psychosis, and antipsychotic drugs block dopamine receptors they act on. Underactivity is linked to loss of motivation in depression.
Drug-driven changes in reward signalling from the ventral tegmental area.
Excess dopamine signalling in mesolimbic pathways.
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