Addictive drugs cause persistent restructuring of several neuronal cell types in the limbic
regions of brain thought to be responsible for long-term behavioral plasticity driving …

Understanding the changes in the brain which occur in the transition from normal to
addictive behavior has major implications in public health. Here we postulate that while …

Adaptation of the nervous system to different chemical and physiologic conditions is
important for the homeostasis of brain processes and for learning and remembering …

Drugs of abuse produce widespread effects on the structure and function of neurons
throughout the brain's reward circuitry, and these changes are believed to underlie the long …

Alcoholism is associated with acute and long-term cognitive dysfunction including memory
impairment, resulting in substantial disability and cost to society. Thus, understanding how …

Drug addiction or substance-use disorder is a chronically relapsing disorder that progresses
through binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect and preoccupation/anticipation …

Synaptic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) has been implicated in the acquisition
of a drug-dependent state. Even a single exposure to cocaine in naive animals is sufficient …

In recent years, the population of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia
nigra (SN) has been examined at multiple levels. The results indicate that the projections …

Parenteral use of drugs; such as opiates exert immunomodulatory effects and serve as a
cofactor in the progression of HIV-1 infection, thereby potentiating HIV related neurotoxicity …

The study of neuronal adaptations induced by opiate drugs is particularly relevant today
given their widespread prescription and nonprescription use. Although much is known about …