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ventral tegmental area

·April 16, 2022·5 min read

A Key Brain Region for Substance Use Disorders Now Has a Searchable Atlas of Distinct Cell Populations

Researchers identified 16 distinct cell populations in the ventral tegmental area, a brain area involved in dopamine neurotransmission involved in reward-directed behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 16, 2017·3 min read

A New Target For Marijuana

Findings shed light on the effect of marijuana on the developing brain and provide a target for cannabis use disorder.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 25, 2016·6 min read

Activating Certain Neurons May Spur Recovery From General Anesthesia

Using optogenetics to activate dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area could help people regain consciousness following general anesthesia, researchers report.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·March 10, 2017·7 min read

Alcoholism May Be Caused by Dynamical Dopamine Imbalance

Researchers have identified a potential mechanism for the development of alcoholism.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 2, 2021·4 min read

Beyond Dopamine: New Reward Circuitry Discovered

Researchers have identified a new reward system in the brain. The study found long-range GABA neurons from the ventral tegmental area to the ventral nucleus accumbens shell are engaged in reward and reinforcement behaviors. This GABAergic projection inhibits cholinergic interneurons.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 5, 2019·4 min read

Brain circuit connects feeding and mood in response to stress

A new study identifies a novel neural network regulating feeding and mood in response to chronic stress. Inhibiting the POMC to ventral tegmental area circuit increases body weight and food intake while reducing depressive symptoms in mouse models.