The laterodorsal tegmentum is essential for burst firing of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons

In response to behaviorally salient stimuli, dopamine (DA) neurons
fire in bursts.  These data show that the LDTg is critical to normal DA function,
and thus, pathology within this region may lead to aberrant DA
signaling.  http://www.pnas.orgcgidoi10.1073pnas.0510715103