PSYCH 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Deep Brain Stimulation, Basal Ganglia, Classical Conditioning
Document Summary
Dopaminergic neurons in vta send signals to nac. Most drugs increased signaling in the dopamine neurotransmitter system. Different drugs produce different withdrawal symptoms and severity. Withdrawal symptoms lead to physical dependence on the drug. Substantia nigra (part of basal ganglia, located in the midbrain) is one place in the brain where dopaminergic neurons are located. Substantia nigra sends input into basal ganglia in striatum which is controlling movement (remember parkinson disease) Ventral tegmental area (vta) (neurons in midbrain) is making lots of different connections, important one is with the nucleus accumbens (nac) this is the reward pathway, if you stimulate these neurons, gives the person feelings of pleasure. Dopamine is being released from the vta onto nac. Vta also making synapses on prefrontal cortex (motivation and planning) and amygdala. Rat can press a lever that will stimulate its own brain. In most areas in the brain, the rat doesn"t really care, but if you stick the electrode into.
