Ventral Tegmental Area

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is derived from the mesencephalic floor plate and is located in the midbrain mantle zone. This area is populated by dopaminergic neurons (which are sometimes referred to as 'the A10 dopaminergic neuron group'), which innervate the nucleus accumbens, the limbic cerebral cortex and the prefrontal cortex. These neurons are involved in modulating cognitive processes.