The main neuropathological feature of Parkinson's disease is the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra ... in the dorsal tier and ventral tegmental area demonstrate a much lower ...

Rather, the major 'novelty center' of the brain -- called the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area (SN/VTA) -- might be activated by the unexpectedness of a stimulus, the emotional arousal it ...

The substantia nigra is a motor nucleus located in the basal ganglia of the midbrain. This brain structure contributes to the body's cognitive and motor functions by sending signals to initiate or ...

They further determined that the ventral tegmental area of the midbrain, which is the origin of dopamine neurons, plays a mediating role in this response. Under stress, animals change their ...

That first spark of attraction ignites a region buried deep inside the brain called the ventral tegmental area, or VTA. Recognizing a potential reward in the making, the VTA begins producing a ...

and insula), including pain-induced emotional responses (amygdala), and in brain reward regions (ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens) that underlie the perception of pleasure and well-being.