A chemically identified anatomical system comprising dopamine-containing cells of the MESENCEPHALON which project to LIMBIC and cortical areas of the FOREBRAIN. Whereas the term MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE SYSTEM is used to refer to the projections mainly from the A10 cell group to subcortical limbic structures, the term mesolimbicocortical system is used to refer to these projections as well as to projections to cortical areas from A10 neurons and projections to limbic areas from neurons of the A9 and A8 groups.
Thus, the subcortical terminal regions of the mesolimbicocortical dopamine system are the ventral striatum (comprising the NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS and the ventral and ante-romedial CAUDATE-PUTAMEN); the OLFACTORY BULB, anterior olfactory nucleii, OLFACTORY TUBERCLE and islands of Callaja; the SEPTAL NUCLEI; the nucleus of the diagonal band; the AMYGDALA; and the HIPPOCAMPUS. The cortical projections are to pyriform cortex, entorhinal, suprarhinal and perirhinal cortex and pregenual and supragenual anteromedial cortex. These cortical areas have in common that they are part of, or anatomically closely related, to the LIMBIC SYSTEM. The DOPAMINE theory of schizophrenia assumes there is hyperactivity of the mesolimbicocortical dopamine system.
