Self-motivated learning in the absence of external feedback can recruit the same brain network as reward-driven learning.

Dopamine modulates behavioral measures of learning and pleasantness in a learning task guided by intrinsic reward, inducing long-term memory benefits specially in those participants with a high sensitivity to reward.

Midbrain dopamine neurons use sophisticated secretory machinery to establish specialized sites for action potential-evoked release of dopamine from their cell bodies and dendrites.

Regulation of Cav2.3 Ca²⁺ channels by membrane-bound β2 subunit splice variants permits long-lasting channel activity even during prolonged and continuous activity in dopamine neurons, with implications for Parkinson's disease pathophysiology.