Mesolimbic pathway

Also known as the " positive reward system " called mesolimbic system ( Syn - mesencephal limbic system ) is critically involved in the development of emotion "joy". But numerous drugs such as opioids, alcohol or nicotine exert their effects by influencing the mesolimbic system by there increase the dopamine release directly or indirectly. Causes the development of addiction to seek as an extreme form of motivation, and are therefore also in the mesolimbic system. This has its origin in the ventral tegmental area (also: ventral tegmental area, VTZ) of the midbrain and is part of the limbic system. The neurotransmitter of the mesolimbic dopamine system is the.

Structure

The dopaminergic neurons of the mesolimbic system to project their axons mainly to structures of the forebrain, such as the nucleus accumbens, ventral striatum, amygdala, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and cingulate gyrus. In particular, by innervation of the nucleus accumbens ( a core structure of the basal ganglia of the lower ( basal ) forebrain ) are modulated whose input and output signals. The latter lead to structures such as the hypothalamus, septum and ventral pallidum.

Function

The function is primarily a modulatory and caused by interconnection with other areas of the limbic system such as a positive reinforcement of behavior (reward learning), because its activation is involved in the development of feelings of pleasure.

Pathophysiology

Here, we refer to the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. This stated that an overactivity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In contrast, the negative symptoms are due to a reduced activity of the dopaminergic system mesocortikalen.

Swell

• Central Nervous System
• Neuropsychology
• Brain