The nucleus accumbens is a major input structure of the basal ganglia and integrates
information from cortical and limbic structures to mediate goal-directed behaviors. Chronic …

Commonalities in addictive behavior, such as craving, stimuli-driven drug seeking, and a
high propensity for relapse following abstinence, have pushed for a unified theory of …

Exposure to addictive drugs causes changes in synaptic function within the striatal complex,
which can either mimic or interfere with the induction of synaptic plasticity. These synaptic …

Substance dependence is characterized by a group of symptoms, according to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV …

Addiction is associated with neuroplasticity in the corticostriatal brain circuitry that is
important for guiding adaptive behaviour. The hierarchy of corticostriatal information …

Chronic use of addictive drugs produces enduring neuroadaptations in the corticostriatal
glutamatergic brain circuitry. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), which integrates cortical …

Medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens serve as the interface between
corticolimbic regions that elicit and modulate motivated behaviors, including those related to …

Cortico-striatal glutamate transmission has been implicated in both the initiation and
expression of addiction related behaviors, such as locomotor sensitization and drug …

Addictive drugs remodel the brain's reward circuitry, the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA)
system, by inducing widespread adaptations of glutamatergic synapses. This drug-induced …

All addictive drugs facilitate dopamine transmission, and determining the role of dopamine
has been the predominant focus of biomedical research in addiction for 20 years. Newer …