 Accumulating literature shows that dopamine also plays a crucial role in aversive learning through its effects on a number of brain regions.The posterior hypothalamus has dopamine neurons that project to the spinal cord, but their function is not well established.There is some evidence that pathology in this area plays a role in restless legs syndrome, a condition in which people have difficulty sleeping due to an overwhelming compulsion to constantly move parts of the body, especially the legs.