Belongs to formatio reticularis dopamine-producing cell groups
Cell group A8, one on the right side and one on the left side, lies laterally in the mesencephalon/midbrain area (area tegmentalis lateralis), caudally about/behind/below the nucleus ruber. Ventrally/forward, the cell group is partly related to the A9 group, i.e. to the compact part of the substantia nigra .
Counted as part of the nucleus parabrachialis pigmentosus.