Abstract
Stressors affect dopamine-dependent behaviors such as motivation, although the underlying neurobiological mechanism is not well defined. We report that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) acts in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to reduce the motivation to work for food rewards. CRF in the VTA regulates dopamine output in a stimulus- and pathway-specific manner, offering a mechanism by which acute stress selectively regulates information transmission via the VTA to reprioritize motivated behavior.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / administration & dosage*
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / physiology*
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Dopamine / metabolism*
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Dopamine / physiology
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Male
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Mesencephalon / drug effects
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Mesencephalon / physiology*
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Microinjections
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Motivation / drug effects
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Motivation / physiology*
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Nucleus Accumbens / drug effects
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Nucleus Accumbens / physiology*
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Predictive Value of Tests
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Reward*
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Signal Transduction / physiology
Substances
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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
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Dopamine