Dopamine – a chemical messenger

Dopamine is an important chemical messenger in the brain that has many functions. Dopamine, known primarily to be a neurotransmitter involved in almost any higher executive action, acts through five types of G-protein-coupled receptors. It’s involved in reward, motivation, memory, attention and even regulating body movements.

Dopamine is also essential for normal voluntary movement as revealed by its involvement in Parkinson’s disease. The many roles of dopamine in the genesis and regulation of normal and abnormal behavior make it of special interest to clinical psychologists.

It is also acts as a compound that helps in maintaining homeostasis. Dopamine is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine constitutes about 80% of the catecholamine content in the brain. It is an amine synthesized by removing a carboxyl group from a molecule of its precursor chemical, L DOPA, which is synthesized in the brain and kidneys.

In the reward pathway, the production of dopamine takes place in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), in nerve cell bodies. From there, it is released into the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex.

Dopamine is released during pleasurable situations and stimulates one to seek out the pleasurable activity or occupation. In contrast, low levels of dopamine are linked to reduced motivation and decreased enthusiasm for things that would excite most people.
Dopamine – a chemical messenger