The 9 dopaminergic pathways of the brain: types, functions and associated disorders

Dopamine Reward Pathway • Video • MEDtube.net

Dopaminergic pathways - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

Dopamine and Reward Systems | Introduction to Psychology | Brain and Cognitive Sciences | MIT OpenCourseWare

Sorting out dopamine's role in reward

The brain’s reward system is governed primarily by dopamine, a neuromodulator that doesn’t create pleasure itself but instead signals anticipation and motivation. Under healthy conditions, dopamine rises in controlled pulses in response to meaningful goals: learning a new skill, exercising, engaging in deep social connection. These pulses create what neuroscientists call “reward prediction errors,” which help the brain calibrate what is worth pursuing. The spacing of those dopamine peaks and tro