Anthony A. Grace

TL;DR: In this paper, a novel mechanism for regulating dopamine activity in subcortical sites and its possible relevance to schizophrenia is proposed, which is based on the regulation of dopamine release into sub cortical regions occurring via two independent mechanisms: (1) transient or phasic dopamine release caused by dopamine neuron firing, and (2) sustained, "background" tonic release regulated by prefrontal cortical afferents.

TL;DR: The concept that the hippocampus and the midbrain dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) form a functional loop is developed and support a model whereby the hippocampal-VTA loop regulates the entry of information into long-term memory.

TL;DR: The data suggest that the increased calcium influx accompanying an increased firing rate triggers burst firing, possibly by inactivating a potassium conductance.

TL;DR: Dissociable regulation of dopamine neuron discharge by two separate afferent systems in rats is reported; inhibition of pallidal afferents selectively increased the population activity of dopamine neurons, whereas activation of pedunculopontine inputs increased burst firing.

TL;DR: This work provides a systems-oriented approach to interpreting the function of the dopamine system, its modulation of limbic-cortical interactions and how disruptions within this system might underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and drug abuse.