The quantity of dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens neurons determines the magnitude of reward 🧠
After dopamine is released from the ventral tegmental areas axonal terminals, it travels across the synapse, where it binds to a dopamine receptor on the nucleus accumbens neurons and exites it, causing the nucleus accumbens to fire, releasing opioid peptides and generating reward. The number of receptors determines the magnitude of the reward. More functional dopamine receptors means a higher chance that any given dopamine molecule will find a receptor to bind to, and therefore more reward signaling even in the face of less dopamine released. But if the number of receptors is reduced, then each dopamine molecule has less of a chance to find a receptor to bind to, and therefor will generate less reward.
References
- Lustig, H., Robert. (2017). The Hacking of the American Mind The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains Chapter 3. Desire and Dopamine, Pleasure and Opioids (Location 704). New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
Metadata
Type:🔴 Tags: Biology / Biochemistry / Neuroscience / Neurochemistry Status:☀️