Opioids are powerful drugs that usurp and overpower the reward function of endogenous
opioids and engage dramatic tolerance and withdrawal via molecular and neurocircuitry …

The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) system represents a primary cell-signaling
pathway throughout systems and across species. PKA facilitates the actions of hormones …

Chronic stress is a major risk factor for depression onset. However, it remains unclear how
repeated stress sculpts neural circuits and finally elicits depression. Given the essential role …

Deep brain stimulation has been extensively studied as a therapeutic option for treatment-
resistant depression (TRD). DBS across different targets is associated with on average 60 …

The brain reward circuit has a central role in reinforcing behaviors that are rewarding and
preventing behaviors that lead to punishment. Recent work has shown that the lateral …

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug found in tobacco that drives its continued use despite the
harmful consequences. The initiation of nicotine abuse involves the mesolimbic dopamine …

Maladaptive aggressive behaviour is associated with a number of neuropsychiatric
disorders and is thought to result partly from the inappropriate activation of brain reward …

Over the last decade, the understanding of the habenula has rapidly advanced from being
an understudied brain area with the Latin name 'habena” meaning “little rein”, to being …

In addition to dopamine neurons, the ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains GABA-,
glutamate-and co-releasing neurons, and recent reports suggest a complex role for the …

Despite being considered primarily a mood disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD) is
characterized by cognitive and decision making deficits. Recent research has employed …