Ventral Tegmental Area
Synonyms
Area Tegmentalis Ventrali
Area Tegmentalis Ventralis
Tegmental Area, Ventral
Tegmentalis Ventrali, Area
Tegmentalis Ventralis, Area
Ventral Tegmental Area of Tsai
A region in the MESENCEPHALON which is dorsomedial to the SUBSTANTIA NIGRA and ventral to the RED NUCLEUS. The mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic systems originate here, including an important projection to the NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS. Overactivity of the cells in this area has been suspected to contribute to the positive symptoms of SCHIZOPHRENIA.