Direct interactions between the basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens core underlie cocaine-seeking behavior by rats.

ABSTRACT: An insidious feature of drug craving and drug seeking in humans is that it can be induced and maintained by conditioned stimuli after a prolonged drug-free period. Understanding the neural basis of this control over addictive behavior may aid in the development of treatments targeting drug seeking and thereby be beneficial in preventing drug use. In the present study, we used a well established animal model to investigate the functional importance of amygdala-nucleus accumbens interactions in cocaine seeking under the control of drug-associated conditioned reinforcers. To probe the direct neuroanatomical relationship between these structures within a functional corticostriatal loop, we used a neuropharmacological disconnection procedure. Thus, infusing a dopamine receptor antagonist unilat

SUBMITTER: Di Ciano P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6729170 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature