Dopamine transport currents are promoted from curiosity to physiology.

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons maintain low ongoing "tonic" activity interrupted by high frequency bursts associated with behavioral reward. Dopamine released during bursts feeds back onto D(2) autoreceptors that depress neuronal activity. New findings from Ingram and colleagues suggest that, by contrast, tonic activity excites these neurons by activating an uncoupled Cl- conductance that is mediated by the dopamine uptake transporter. This response extends the range of states regulated by neurotransmitter feedback, and could contribute importantly to understanding amphetamine action.