Science

Dopamine (DA) is hypothesized to modulate anxiety-like behavior, although the precise role of DA in anxiety behaviors and the complete anxiety network in the brain have yet to be elucidated. Recent data indicate that dopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) innervate the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), but how the IPN responds to DA and what role this circuit plays in anxiety-like behavior are

Conclusion The results of our study provide a better understanding of the role of the dopaminergic system in the execution of avoidance behavior. Specifically, good performers have DA patterns in the amygdala, SN, VTA and LC that are intrinsically different from those of poor performers, and it could be possible to convert animals from good to poor performers through manipulation of D1 and D2 receptors. In the future, we expect that our results will provide insights into the treatment of psychiatric disorders.