This episode is about dopamine.  In episode 32, I discussed the pseudoscientific trend of the “dopamine detox”  or "dopamine fasting."  Instead of talking about pseudoscience in this episode, I discuss the actual science surrounding dopamine and its relationship with the neuroleptics or antipsychotics as they are more commonly known.   The effects and side effects of antipsychotics are related to the function of the major dopamine networks of the brain: the mesolimbic, mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular pathways.  Dopamine levels in each of these pathways can be regulated also by serotonin receptors, and so this episode contains a discussion of how first generation, second generation, and novel antipsychotics affect dopamine by affecting serotonin receptors.

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