Midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons fire bursts of activity in response to sensory stimuli,
including those associated with primary reward. They are therefore conditional bursters–the
bursts conveying, amongst other things, motivationally relevant information to the forebrain.
In the forebrain, bursts give rise to a supra-additive release of dopamine, and possibly
favour the release of co-localised neuropeptides. Evidence is presented that in rat DA
neurons, bursts are engendered by the activity of cortically-regulated afferents. Certain …