Part 3/13:
Movement Pathway – Substantia Nigra to Dorsal Striatum: This circuit is crucial for initiating and controlling movement. Its degeneration results in the motor symptoms observed in Parkinson’s disease.
Reward and Motivation Pathway – The Mesocorticolimbic System: Originating in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and connecting to the prefrontal cortex and other regions, this pathway underpins feelings of reward, reinforcement, and motivation.
Dopamine release occurs via two mechanisms: synaptic (local) release, which influences nearby neurons, and volumetric (broad) release, which floods larger areas of the brain, shaping global neural states.