Dopamine pathways

Question 1

Mesolimbic pathway

Answer 1

connects ventral tegmental area of midbrain to nucleus accumbens and limbic system, activation responsible for pleasure and reward, overactivation leads to drug craving and substance use disorder

Question 2

Mesocortical pathway

Answer 2

from ventral tegmental area and projects to prefrontal cortex, disruption can affect self-control, stress reactivity, and motivation to seek drug

Question 3

Nigrostriatal pathway Tuberoinfundibular

Answer 3

originates in dopamine neurons in substantia nigra of midbrain and project into corpus striatum, involved in habitual behavior like compulsive drug seeking

Question 4

Tuberoinfundibular pathway

Answer 4

involved in regulation of endocrine role of pituitary gland, no role in pleasure and reward