Dendritic spines are multifunctional integrative units of the nervous system and are highly
diverse and dynamic in nature. Both internal and external stimuli influence dendritic spine …

The anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala and hippocampus form part of an interconnected
prefrontal neocortical and limbic archicortical network that is dysregulated in major …

Locomotor sensitization is a common and robust behavioral alteration in rodents whereby
following exposure to abused drugs such as cocaine, the animal becomes significantly more …

Chronic cocaine treatment is associated with changes in dendritic spines in the nucleus
accumbens, but it is unknown whether this neuroplasticity alters the effect of a subsequent …

Relapse to cocaine use necessitates remodeling excitatory synapses in the nucleus
accumbens and synaptic reorganization requires matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) …

Animal models of relapse reveal that the motivation to seek drug is regulated by enduring
morphological and physiological changes in the nucleus accumbens, as well as transient …

Morphological features such as size, shape and density of dendritic spines have been
shown to reflect important synaptic functional attributes and potential for plasticity. Here we …

Stress alters the structure and function of brain reward circuitry and is an important risk factor
for developing depression. In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), structural and physiological …

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a central role in motivation and reward. While there is
ample evidence for sex differences in addiction‐related behaviors, little is known about the …

Mesolimbic dopamine neurons projecting from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus
accumbens (NAc) are part of a complex circuit mediating cocaine‐directed behaviors …