Dopaminergic reward system: A short integrative review

Oscar Arias-Carrián, Maria Stamelou, Eric Murillo-Rodríguez, Manuel Menéndez-Gonzlez, Ernst Pöppel

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

283 Scopus citations

Abstract

Memory is an essential element to adaptive behavior since it allows consolidation of past experience guiding the subject to consider them in future experiences. Among the endogenous molecules that participate in the consolidation of memory, including the drug-seeking reward, considered as a form of learning, is dopamine. This neurotransmitter modulates the activity of specific brain nucleus such as nuclei accumbens, putamen, ventral tegmental area (VTA), among others and synchronizes the activity of these nuclei to establish the neurobiological mechanism to set the hedonic element of learning. We review the experimental evidence that highlights the activity of different brain nuclei modulating the mechanisms whereby dopamine biases memory towards events that are of motivational significance.

Original languageEnglish
Article number24
JournalInternational Archives of Medicine
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dopaminergic reward system: A short integrative review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this