Dopamine plays a role in promoting goal-directed behavior. It is produced in several specialized areas of the brain. The neurons send their connections to specific brain regions to exert their functions, thereby creating a “dopamine pathway”.
One area that produces dopamine is the substantia nigra, latin for “black substance”. The black color of this brain structure comes from the high levels of a chemical called neuromelanin that is found in these neurons.
The Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) is another important site in the production of dopamine. Certain neurons in the hypothalamus, a brain structure involved in homeostasis, also produce this essential neuromodulator. The dopamine being released by the neurons of your brain will have a different function depending on which pathway it is being released in.