The brain\u2019s dopamine system is highly complex, and is critically involved in many extremely important processes such as motivation, reward, mood, and pleasure. Because it is so complex, there is a large number of different genes and genetic variants that can potentially affect how the dopamine system works. Read on to learn about these important genetic factors, and how they can potentially affect the overall levels and activity of dopamine in the brain!<\/p>\n
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Dopamine receptors are how the actual neurotransmitter dopamine affects the activity of cells in the brain.<\/p>\n
The dopamine system is highly complex, and involves many different specific types of dopamine receptors. Each type is located on particular types of neurons, and has specific individual functions that vary between the different receptor types.<\/p>\n
Each type of receptor also has specific genes that are involved in producing the receptor, which can affect how many of each type a given person has throughout their brain, as well as exactly how they function.<\/p>\n
This gene encodes D1 dopamine receptors<\/a>, which are believed to be involved in controlling neuronal growth and behavior (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n This gene encodes the \u201cD2\u201d type of dopamine receptor.<\/p>\n The \u2018A\u2019 allele of the rs1800497<\/a> SNP in the DRD2 gene<\/a> has been associated with relatively reduced numbers of D2 receptors (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n According to one study, this genetic variant may also be associated with relatively lower rates of ADHD (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n DRD3<\/a> encodes dopamine receptors that are located in the limbic areas of the brain, which have been associated with a wide variety of cognitive, emotional, and hormonal functions (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/a>Dopamine D2 Receptor gene (DRD2)<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Dopamine D3 Receptor gene (DRD3)<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Dopamine D4 Receptor gene (<\/strong>DRD4<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong> (R<\/a>)<\/h4>\n
<\/a>Dopamine D5 Receptor gene (DRD5<\/a>)<\/h4>\n