The neurochemistry of behavior: Dopamine and motivation

Journal/Book: Psychol Rundsch. 1997; 48: Rohnsweg 25, D-37085 Gottingen, Germany. Hogrefe-Verlag GmbH & Co. 211-223.

Abstract: The biogenic amine dopamine, one of the various molecules which transmits information between neurons of the brain, provides a particularly interesting candidate for research in physiological psychology. This neurotransmitter is thought to be involved in a number of basic behavioral functions like motivation, learning, psychomotor mechanisms, attention, and functional disturbances, including drug addiction, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. In this short review, data obtained from animal studies will be summarized which deal with the relationships between brain dopamine function and normal motivated behavior, on the one hand, and addiction as a disturbance of motivational mechanisms, on the other. Special attention will be given to the dopaminergic innervation of the nucleus accumbens and its possible role as a substrate or correlate of reward, reinforcement, psychomotor activation or incentive salience.

Note: Article Schwarting RKW, Univ Dusseldorf, Inst Physiol Psychol 1, Univ Str 1, D-40225 Dusseldorf, GERMANY

Keyword(s): motivation; learning; reinforcement; dopamine; nucleus accumbens; neurotransmission; NUCLEUS-ACCUMBENS; STRIATAL DOPAMINE; PARKINSONS-DISEASE; VENTRAL STRIATUM; BASAL GANGLIA; SCHIZOPHRENIA; RELEASE; NEURONS; ADDICTION; BRAIN

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