In the midbrain, typical dopamine neurons are clustered in areas known as ventral tegmental area (VTA), substantia nigra (SN), and retrorubral field (RRF), expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, a rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis).They play an important role in many high-level cognitive processes, as reward, addiction, and so on.However, although TH positive (TH+) cells have also been found in the cortex, their function is so far still unknown.Here we perform immunohistochemical and electrophysiological experiments on TH+ neurons in both midbrain and cortex of the mouse, and preliminary results show that they are distinct in terms of both distribution and electrophysiological properties.Comparing with the TH+ neuron in the midbrain, those in the cortex distribute more sporadically, fire narrower action potentials, and have higher firing rate.These differences in properties might have important functional implications, and this particular subgroup of TH+ neurons in the cortex might participate in the dopamine system through an unconventional way.