Natural and drug rewards act on the same neural pathway, the mesolimbic dopaminergic
system. In brain regions such as the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, drugs …

Drug addiction shares brain mechanisms and molecular substrates with learning and
memory processes, such as the stimulation of glutamate receptors and their downstream …

Glutamatergic system has an important role in cocaine-seeking behavior. Studies have
reported that chronic exposure to cocaine induces downregulation of glutamate transporter …

Background Clinical studies demonstrated peripheral nociceptor deficit in stress‐related
chronic pain states, such as fibromyalgia. The interactions of stress and nociceptive systems …

Spinophilin is a scaffolding protein enriched in dendritic spines with integral roles in the
regulation of spine density and morphology, and the modulation of synaptic plasticity. The …

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has evolved as a promising alternative treatment for
Parkinson's disease (PD), but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood …

Aim Reinforcing properties of ethanol and cocaine are mediated in part through the
glutamatergic system. Extracellular glutamate concentration is strictly maintained through …

The aim of this study was to investigate the intracellular responses associated with the
acquisition and expression of cocaine-context associations. ERK (extracellular regulated …

Many studies have implicated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in drug-rewarding
properties. Yet, only few investigated if ERK also mediates the naturally rewarding stimuli. In …

The behavioral effects of methamphetamine (METH) are mediated by the striatum, which is
divided into the patch compartment, which mediates limbic and reward functions, and the …