Dopamine-releasing neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have central roles in
reward-related and goal-directed behaviours. VTA dopamine-releasing neurons are …

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is well known for regulating reward consumption, learning,
memory, and addiction behaviors through mediating dopamine (DA) release in downstream …

Projections from the lateral hypothalamus (LH) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA),
containing both GABAergic and glutamatergic components, encode conditioned responses …

Dopamine has a central role in motivation and reward. Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral
tegmental area (VTA) signal the discrepancy between expected and actual rewards (that is …

Addictive drugs have in common that they target the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA)
system. This system originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects mainly to the …

Pleasure and motivation are important factors for goal-directed behavior and well-being in
both animals and humans. Intact hedonic capacity requires an undisturbed interplay …

Salient but aversive stimuli inhibit the majority of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral
tegmental area (VTA) and cause conditioned place aversion (CPA). The cellular mechanism …

Currently there is no general approach for achieving specific optogenetic control of
genetically defined cell types in rats, which provide a powerful experimental system for …

The ventral pallidum (VP) plays a critical role in the processing and execution of motivated
behaviors. Yet this brain region is often overlooked in published discussions of the …

The lateral habenula (LHb) is involved in reward, aversion, addiction and depression
through descending interactions with several brain structures, including the ventral …