Cited by 315Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Dopamine: a key regulator to adapt action, emotion, motivation and cognition

Nieoullon, André, Coquerel, Antoine·2003·Current Opinion in Neurology

Abstract

Dopamine is expressed in restricted brain areas involved in numerous integrative functions contributing to automated behaviours that are highly adaptive. During ontogenesis, dopamine can have a trophic action, which influences cortical specification directly, especially in prefrontal areas. Such a role is attested by the close relationships existing between the development of dopamine cortical innervation and cognitive abilities. Interestingly, such a proposal is reinforced by phylogenetic data. During the last stages of evolution in mammals, the characteristic extension of dopamine cortical innervation is also correlated with the development of cognitive capacities. More generally, the contribution of dopamine will be to increase the processing of cortical information through basal ganglia, either during the course of evolution or development. In this respect, dysmaturation suspected in schizophrenia and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in children can emphasize such a defect in basal ganglia processing. Remarkably, these diseases are improved by dopamine antagonists and agonists, respectively. In this line of evidence, experimental studies showed that selective lesions of the dopamine neurones in rats or primates can actually provide motor, limbic and cognitive deficits, in later cases especially when the mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathways are altered. Data resulting from lesion studies also showed significant alteration in attentional processes, thus raising the question of the direct involvement of dopamine in regulating attention. Dopamine can act as a powerful regulator and integrator of different aspects of brain functions. For example, in Parkinson's disease, besides motor impairment, dopamine degeneration is also expressed by alterations of both limbic, executive and cognitive functions, both improved by dopamine receptor agonists and dopa therapy. Dopamine has thus to be considered as a key regulator that contributes to behavioural adaptation and to the anticipatory processes necessary for preparing voluntary action consequent upon intention. In this respect, the alteration of dopamine transmission with age could contribute to cognitive impairment. Therefore, to normalize dopamine transmission pharmacologically could actually improve the cognitive and limbic deficits during normal aging, as it does in psychiatric and neurological disorders.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1097/00019052-200312002-00002

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63 of 63 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Playing video games can facilitate the release of extrastriatal dopamine, which plays a role in focusing attention and heightening arousal.

    “However, it is thought that playing video games can facilitate the release of extrastriatal dopamine, which plays a role in focusing attention and heightening arousal [68,69]”
  • Dopaminergic systems subserve brain activity relevant to motor, cognitive, and motivational functioning and include the mesocortical, mesolimbic, and nigrostriatal dopaminergic systems.

    “Dopaminergic systems subserve brain activity relevant to motor, cognitive, and motivational functioning and include the mesocortical, mesolimbic (often combined into the mesocorticolimbic), and nigrostriatal dopamingeric systems (Nieoullon & Coquerel, 2003;Wise, 2004).”

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Authors
Nieoullon, A., & Coquerel, A.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen Normandie (FR)
Corresponding author
Nieoullon, André
Venue
Current Opinion in Neurology
Published
2003-12
Volume
16
Pages
S3-S9
ISSN
1350-7540 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2066824070
Cited by
315
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
FWCI
3.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
dopamine, dopamine agonists, dopamine antagonists, basal ganglia, mesocorticolimbic pathway, prefrontal cortex, cognitive development, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic lesions, attention, aging, cognitive impairment
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Chemistry, Cognition, Dopamine, Emotions, Humans, Motivation

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