What Are Dopamine Pathways And How Do They Work?

Dopamine is generally known as a type of neurotransmitter that supports our ability to experience pleasure, motivation, focus, satisfaction, mood, arousal, and more. Because dopamine primarily mediates feelings relating to pleasure and reward, dopamine pathways can potentially help you make the choices that will benefit you the most. 

When these pathways are functioning properly, they can work to keep you both happy and healthy. When a dopamine pathway is disrupted, health problems can occur in some. 

Below, we explore dopamine’s role in human health and what you can do if you feel your levels are low.

Dopamine in the nervous system

Dopamine and dopamine neurons can also be used within the nervous system. Here, it's generally thought to be responsible for executive functions, motivation, arousal, lactation, nausea, sexual gratification and motor control. Dopamine in the nervous system is generally responsible for executing functions that begin in the brain. It also helps you develop from the time you're an infant up to adulthood. If dopamine is not properly supported at this level, it can result in Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders in some.

Exploring the basal ganglia: Dopamine creation

The basal ganglia are considered by most to be the largest source of dopamine production in the body. This structure is generally located within the forebrain and can influence one’s actions and executive function.

Though there’s still a lot to learn about this area of the brain and more research needs to be done, experts do believe that this structure and dopamine housed within it can support decision-making and functionality overall. 

This hypothesis may support the idea that impulsive behavior could occur if too much dopamine is present, or may subsequently result in slow reactions if there's not enough dopamine available.

Dopamine pathways: How do they work? 

These pathways are generally defined as neural circuits that allow dopamine to travel through different parts of the body and accomplish various tasks. Within the brain, these pathways can act as a type of neuromodulator — potentially helping transmit different needs between nerves and moderate a person’s thoughts and feelings. 

These dopaminergic pathways can allow individuals to experience a surge of positive feelings when, for example, they expect rewards for certain actions or behaviors. It also can support their ability to receive information from different nerves within the body. There are several types of these pathways within the brain, including mesocortical dopaminergic pathways, mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways, nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways, and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic pathways.

• Mesocortical Pathway: The mesocortical dopamine pathway carries dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to various areas within the prefrontal cortex. Neurons in the VTA and The dopaminergic projections within this pathway assist the prefrontal cortex in sustaining cognition and working memory and can cause more efficacious decision-making. 
• Mesolimbic Pathway: Like the mesocortical pathway, the mesolimbic dopamine pathway starts in the ventral tegmental area (located in part of the midbrain). From there, it carries midbrain dopamine to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The nucleus accumbens is also known as the ventral striatum. This area of the brain is associated with the pleasure and reward systems. 
• Nigrostriatal Pathway: The nigrostriatal pathway contains a large amount of the brain’s dopamine supply and is associated with motor planning, which is what allows us to engage in physical activities. The dopamine projections in this pathway start in the substantia nigra pars compacta (located with the dorsal striatum in the midbrain), where dopaminergic neurons are found. These neurons are sometimes referred to as DA neurons. The nigrostriatal pathway stretches from this area of the midbrain to the basal ganglia. Some types of antipsychotic medication can interfere with this substantia nigra connected pathway, potentially causing movement disorders. 
• Tuberoinfundibular Pathway: The tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway begins and ends in the hypothalamus, starting in the arcuate and paraventricular nuclei and ending in the median eminence of the infundibular region. Due to the way it affects the pituitary gland region, the dopamine released here can inhibit prolactin release. Like the nigrostriatal pathway, certain antipsychotic drugs can block the receptors relating to this pathway and cause hyperprolactinemia, or elevated prolactin levels in the blood. 

Artificial dopamine

When there isn’t enough dopamine being produced within the body it can lead to different medical conditions and psychiatric disorders. These may require varying levels of aid when it comes to medication and treatment. 

Artificial dopamine is one of the ways that some of these disorders are being treated. Parkinson's disease, for example, can be treated with an artificial form of dopamine. Additionally, a lack of the chemical within the body of a newborn can be treated with an intravenous drip that releases dopamine into the body.

Like any other medical treatment, artificial dopamine can have potential side effects to consider when assessing the possible benefits and risks.

Current research suggests that an artificial dopamine release can increase sodium excretion within the kidneys, raise one’s heart rate, increase one’s blood pressure, and increase one’s urine output. 

By evaluating and monitoring different functions within the body, it can be possible for your physician to determine if an individual’s dopamine levels are too low, and to treat them appropriately.

Seeking overall improvement

Even though dopamine is generally no longer solely considered the 'happy drug' of the body, it still can play a part in the way that you feel when it comes to pleasure and rewards, as well as in your physical health. 

Maintaining healthy levels of dopamine may help you feel both mentally and physically stronger. You can increase your dopamine levels naturally by:

• Taking daily probiotics
• Meditating 
• Exercising regularly 
• Getting adequate sleep each night 
• Getting enough sunlight or going into nature
• Taking supplements to boost any deficiencies in your body* 
• Listening to music 
• Eating more protein and less saturated fat

*Please consider contacting your doctor before attempting any type of supplementation for optimal physical health and safety.

How can online therapy support people to focus on mental and physical health? 

Whether it’s low dopamine levels, a mental health condition, or other life circumstances there are many reasons you may feel unlike yourself. With the help of medical providers and a mental health professional, however, you may be able to find out more about what you're experiencing and attain a higher quality of life. 

We do want to note that the concept of improvement can feel overwhelming, especially for those living with low dopamine or related effects. For example: Low dopamine levels can lead to conditions such as depression. Depression can make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, which can make it difficult to get the care you need. Online therapy can be a valuable resource that still allows you to receive support from the comfort of your home. You can connect in a way that feels most comfortable for you, whether it’s a phone call, video call, or in-app messaging.

You can connect with an online therapist through BetterHelp to address any of the mental health challenges you’re facing. 

Is online therapy effective?  

Online therapy has been scientifically suggested to be useful for managing and treating a variety of mental health disorders. A study published in Science Daily found that psychotherapy delivered via the internet was just as effective, if not better, than face-to-face sessions. Researchers found that “depression values fell significantly” for those participating in the study, confirmed by clinical self-reports. Three months later, the rates of depression decreased even further and, in 57% of the participants, depression could no longer be detected at all through the self-reporting system.