Substantia nigra
The
substantia nigra (
Latin for "black substance") is a portion of the
midbrain in which
dopamine is produced. Damage to the substantia nigra, whether from age related changes, viral infection (the "sleepy sickness" of the 1920s described in
Oliver Sacks' book
Awakenings), or toxins such as
MPTP (a mis-manufactured synthetic heroin), results in
Parkinsonism