Distinct cell populations of ventral tegmental area process motivated behavior
10.4196/kjpp.2022.26.5.307
- Author:
Min Jung KIM
1
;
Bong-Kiun KAANG
Author Information
1. School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Publication Type:Review Article
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2022;26(5):307-312
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
It is well known that dopamine transmission from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) modulates motivated behavior and reinforcement learning. Although dopaminergic neurons are the major type of VTA neurons, recent studies show that a significant proportion of the VTA contains GABAergic and type 2 vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2)-positive neurons. The non-dopaminergic neurons are also critically involved in regulating motivated behaviors. Some VTA neurons appear to co-release two different types of neurotransmitters. They are VGLUT2-DA neurons, VGLUT2-GABA neurons and GABA-DA neurons. These co-releasing neurons show distinct features compared to the neurons that release a single neurotransmitter. Here, we review how VTA cell populations wire to the other brain regions and how these projections differentially contribute to motivated behavior through the distinct molecular mechanism. We summarize the activities, projections and functions of VTA neurons concerning motivated behavior. This review article discriminates VTA cell populations related to the motivated behavior based on the neurotransmitters they release and extends the classical view of the dopamine-mediated reward system.
