Beyond “High” and “Low” Dopamine: Physiological Models of Striatal Dopamine Signals

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Robert Schmidt
• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Network Neuroscience
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 548712562

The neuromodulator dopamine plays a central role in cognitive and motor functions of the brain and has also been implicated in many neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Therefore it is important to understand the mechanisms by which it contributes to normal and pathological processing in the brain. Despite the known heterogeneity and complexity of the dopamine signaling system, its function is often reduced to rather simplified descriptions such as “high” and “low” dopamine states. In this project we challenge this view by examining a computational model that incorporates many biophysical and physiological mechanisms of dopamine signaling. This results in a more detailed understanding that takes into account spatial and temporal patterns emerging from the dynamic dopamine release machinery. This is important in light of ongoing experimental developments allowing for dopamine measurements with higher spatial and temporal resolution and will pave the way for a better understanding of dopamine function and dopamine-related pathologies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants