A finding by a McGill-led team of neuroscientists could open doors to new treatments for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders attributed to dysfunctions in specific dopamine pathways. For those struggling with a psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia, addiction or ADHD, or with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's, there might be good news ahead. The neuroscientists have discovered that a small group of dopamine neurons in the striatum play a crucial role in balancing several essential brain functions, including those related to reward, cognition and movement.
Dopamine is a messenger molecule that is often associated with pleasure and reward. But it plays an equally important role in mood regulation, sleep and digestion, as well as in motor and cognitive functions. An excess release of dopamine, induced by certain drugs or behaviors, is responsible for addiction.
Conversely, its absence can cause profound alterations in motor control , as is the case in Parkinson's disease. A critical balancing act Scientists had previously identified the functions of two distinct pathways and types of dopamine receptors in the forebrain: the D1 receptors, which activate neurons, and the D2 receptors, which inhibit them. A third group of dopamine receptors that possess both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors was known to exist, but until now, no one had been able to identify their specific function.
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