What Are Dopamine Pathways And How Do They Work?

Dopamine is generally known as a type of neurotransmitter that supports our ability to experience pleasure, motivation, focus, satisfaction, mood, arousal, and more. Because dopamine plays a major role in reward, motivation, learning, movement, and other functions, dopamine pathways influence can influence daily decision-making.

When these pathways are functioning properly, they can work to support important brain and body functions . When a dopamine pathway is disrupted, health problems can occur in some.

Below, we explore dopamine’s role in human health and what may help if you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you.

Dopamine in the nervous system

Dopamine acts within the nervous system as a neurotransmitter. Here, it helps regulate functions related to motivation, movement, hormone signaling, and other processes. It also helps you develop from the time you're an infant up to adulthood. Disruptions in dopamine signaling are involved in Parkinson’s disease and some other neurological or psychiatric conditions.

Exploring the basal ganglia: Dopamine creation

Some key dopamine-producing neurons are located in brain regions such as the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area, which connect to the basal ganglia and other structures. The basal ganglia are a group of structures deep in the brain that help regulate movement and some aspects of behavior.

Though there’s still a lot to learn about this area of the brain and more research needs to be done, experts do believe that dopamine signaling in connected brain circuits plays a role in movement, motivation, and some aspects of decision-making

This supports the idea that changes in dopamine signaling is linked to complex effects depending on whether the levels are increased or decrease within the brain circuits.

We do want to note: Dopamine can be found in other parts of the body as well . Because dopamine does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, dopamine in the brain and dopamine in the rest of the body can function somewhat separately. Though more research is needed to find out what the purpose of dopamine in the blood is, leading research does suggest that there is quite a bit of it in the human body.

Dopamine pathways: How do they work?

These pathways are generally defined as neural circuits that allow dopamine to travel through different parts of the brain and accomplish various tasks. Within the brain, these pathways can act as a type of neuromodulator — helping to regulate signaling between nerve cells and influence movement, motivation, learning, and emotion.

These dopaminergic pathways can allow individuals to experience a surge of positive feelings when, for example, they expect rewards for certain actions or behaviors. There are several types of these pathways within the brain, including mesocortical dopaminergic pathways, mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways, nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways, and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic pathways.

• Mesocortical Pathway: The mesocortical dopamine pathway carries dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to various areas within the prefrontal cortex. Neurons in the VTA and The dopaminergic projections within this pathway assist the prefrontal cortex in sustaining cognition and working memory and helps support cognition, working memory, and decision-making.
• Mesolimbic Pathway: Like the mesocortical pathway, the mesolimbic dopamine pathway starts in the ventral tegmental area (located in part of the midbrain). From there, it carries midbrain dopamine to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The nucleus accumbens is also known as the ventral striatum. This area of the brain is associated with the pleasure and reward systems.
• Nigrostriatal Pathway: The nigrostriatal pathway is one of the brain’s major dopamine pathways and is especially important for movement, which is what allows us to engage in physical activities. The nigrostriatal pathway begins in the substantia nigra pars compacta in the midbrain and projects to the dorsal striatum, where dopaminergic neurons are found. These neurons are sometimes referred to as DA neurons. The nigrostriatal pathway stretches from this area of the midbrain to the basal ganglia. Some types of antipsychotic medication can interfere with this substantia nigra connected pathway, potentially causing movement-related side effects.
• Tuberoinfundibular Pathway: The tuberoinfundibular pathway begins in the hypothalamus and projects to the median eminence, where it helps regulate prolactin release from the pituitary. Due to the way it affects the pituitary gland region, the dopamine released here can inhibit prolactin release. Like the nigrostriatal pathway, certain antipsychotic medications can block the receptors relating to this pathway and cause hyperprolactinemia, or elevated prolactin levels in the blood.

Medications that affect dopamine

When dopamine signaling is disrupted, it can be associated with different medical conditions and mental health conditions. These may require varying levels of support when it comes to treatment, which can sometimes include medication.

Medications that affect dopamine are one of the ways some of these conditions may be treated. Parkinson's disease, for example, may be treated with medication that helps increase dopamine activity. Additionally, in hospital settings, IV dopamine may sometimes be used to support blood pressure or circulation in critically ill patients

Like any other medical treatment, medications that affect dopamine can have potential side effects to consider when assessing the possible benefits and risks.

Current research suggests that dopamine given by IV can increase sodium excretion within the kidneys, raise one’s heart rate, increase one’s blood pressure, and increase one’s urine output.

By evaluating and monitoring different functions within the body, it is possible for your physician to determine whether further medical assessment is needed and how to treat the underlying concern appropriately.

*Medication is prescribed only when clinically appropriate and is not guaranteed. Pricing, availability, insurance coverage, and copays vary by plan, location, and provider availability are not guaranteed.

Seeking overall improvement

Even though dopamine is generally no longer solely considered the 'happy chemical' of the body, it still can play a part in the way that you feel when it comes to pleasure and rewards, as well as in your physical health.

Healthy habits may support normal dopamine function and overall well-being. You can support healthy dopamine function naturally by:

• Meditating
• Exercising regularly
• Getting adequate sleep each night
• Getting enough sunlight or going into nature
• Taking supplements to address any deficiencies in your body*
• Listening to music
• Eating more protein and less saturated fat

*Please consider contacting your doctor before attempting any type of supplementation for optimal physical health and safety.

How can online therapy support people to focus on mental and physical health?

Whether it’s concerns about dopamine levels, a mental health condition, or other life circumstances, there are many reasons you may feel unlike yourself. With the help of medical providers and a mental health professional, however, you may be able to find out more about what you're experiencing and attain a higher quality of life.

We do want to note that the concept of improvement can feel overwhelming, especially for those living with low dopamine or related effects. For example: low dopamine activity may be linked with symptoms seen in conditions such as depression. Depression can make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, which can make it difficult to get the care you need. Online therapy can be a valuable resource that still allows you to receive support from the comfort of your home. You can connect in a way that feels most comfortable for you, whether it’s a phone call, video call, or in-app messaging.

You can connect with an online therapist through BetterHelp to address mental health challenges you’re facing. BetterHelp now offers psychiatry services through UpLift as an additional care option alongside therapy. When clinically appropriate and based on a licensed psychiatric provider’s evaluation, psychiatry services may include medication management. Medication availability and coverage may vary by member location, clinical appropriateness, and individual pharmacy/insurance benefits. Prescribing decisions are made by the treating clinicians. We do not guarantee that any specific medication will be prescribed or covered by a member’s insurance plan.

Is online therapy effective?

Online therapy has been scientifically suggested to be useful for managing and treating a variety of mental health conditions. A study published in Science Daily found that psychotherapy delivered via the internet may be just as effective as face-to-face sessions. Researchers found that “depression values fell significantly” for those participating in the study, confirmed by clinical self-reports. Three months later, the rates of depression decreased even further and, in 57% of the participants, depression could no longer be detected at all through the self-reporting system.