Dopamine System

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses a report by Bruce G. Mockett on research that focused on some key issues of the problem of the dopamine system. The paper describes the purpose of the research, theoretical assumptions underlying the research, the methods used in the research, the main findings of the research and its contributions.

From the Paper:

"As it is well known catecholamines play an important role in the regulation of the vital functions. Understanding the mechanisms of the neuromodulation is a crucial point for the modern psychopharmacology, behavioral sciences, neurophysiology. One of the most urgent questions is clarification of the cellular mechanisms of the principal mental functions: memory, cognition and emotions. Explanations for multiple receptors with similar ligand specificity include subtype-specific differences in distribution or developmental expression (Lezcano N., Bergson C., 2002). Thus, dopamine transmission is mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. They mark them out into five groups: D1-like (D1 and D5 subtypes) and D2-like (D2-D4 subtypes). The D1 subtype is the most prevalent dopamine receptor in brain. Recent researches gave evidence that the D1-like receptors take part in modulating motor, cognitive and reward behavior is well established. There is evidence that D1-like receptors can modulate various forms of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), in the various cerebral structures including neocortex, hippocampus and striatum."

More papers on Dopamine System:

• Term Paper # 134853 : "Dopamine in the Sleep Cycle"
• Research Paper # 16342 : "The Role of Biogenic Amine Reward Pathways in Happiness and Sadness"
• Essay # 25428 : "ADHD Research"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: