title: Dopaminergic modulation of neuronal excitability in the striatum and nucleus accumbens.
abstract: The striatum and its ventral extension, the nucleus accumbens, are involved in behaviors as diverse as motor planning, drug seeking, and learning. Invariably, these striatally mediated behaviors depend on intact dopaminergic innervation. However, the mechanisms by which dopamine modulates neuronal function in the striatum and nucleus accumbens have been difficult to elucidate. Recent electrophysiological studies have revealed that dopamine alters both voltage-dependent conductances and synaptic transmission, resulting in state-dependent modulation of target cells. These studies make clear predictions about how dopamine, particularly via D1 receptor activation, should alter the responsiveness of striatal neurons to extrinsic excitatory synaptic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco 94143, USA. nicola@phy.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Surmeier
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Malenka
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004298:Dopamine