The Mystery of Dopamine Release and its Effect on Behavior

Dopamine's involvement in making behavioral modules more stochastic and the molecular level process of dopamine release are still unknown. Unlike other neurotransmitters, dopamine is not released through canonical synaptic vesicles at synapses. The localization and spatial domain of dopamine release is still a mystery, as it is not released through real synapses but rather in bulging axons. Dopamine is released by volume transmission and quickly taken back up by the dopamine transporter. The effect of cocaine or ritalin on dopamine release is significant.