title: Pre- and postsynaptic aspects of dopamine-mediated transmission.
abstract: Dopamine agonist administration induces changes in firing rate and pattern in basal ganglia nuclei that provide an insight into the role of dopamine in basal ganglia function. These changes support a more complex, integrated basal ganglia network than envisioned in early models. Functionally important effects on basal ganglia output involve alterations in burstiness, synchronization and oscillatory activity,as well as rate. Multisecond oscillations in basal ganglia firing rates are markedly affected by systemic administration of dopamine-receptor agonists. This suggests that coordinated changes in neuronal activity at time scales longer than commonly investigated play a role in the cognitive and motor processes that are modulated by dopamine.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1406, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ruskin
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Allers
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bergstrom
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004298:Dopamine