biostudies-literatureBaumgartner HMNIDA NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNational Institute on Drug Abusee0267345https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9064096biostudies-literatureUnknown17(5)Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) systems in limbic structures are posited to mediate stress-induced relapse in addiction, traditionally by generating distress states that spur drug consumption as attempts at hedonic self-medication. Yet evidence suggests that activating CRF-expressing neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) or nucleus accumbens (NAc) can magnify incentive motivation in absence of distress, at least for sucrose rewards. However, traditional CRF hypotheses in addiction neuroscience are primarily directed toward drug rewards. The question remains open whether CRF systems can similarly act via incentive motivation mechanisms to promote pursuit of drug rewards, such as cocaine. Here we tested whether optogenetic excitation of CRF-containing neurons in either NAc medial shell,PloS oneCorticotropin releasing factor (CRF) systems: Promoting cocaine pursuit without distress via incentive motivation.PMC9064096F31 DA047738DA015188T32 DA007281R01 DA015188MH063649R01 MH063649Schulkin JGranillo MBerridge KCBaumgartner HMfalseCorticotropin releasing factor (CRF) systems: Promoting cocaine pursuit without distress via incentive motivation.Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) systems in limbic structures are posited to mediate stress-induced relapse in addiction, traditionally by generating distress states that spur drug consumption as attempts at hedonic self-medication. Yet evidence suggests that activating CRF-expressing neurons in the central amygdala (CeA) or nucleus accumbens (NAc) can magnify incentive motivation in absence of distress, at least for sucrose rewards. However, traditional CRF hypotheses in addiction neuroscience are primarily directed toward drug rewards. The question remains open whether CRF systems can similarly act via incentive motivation mechanisms to promote pursuit of drug rewards, such as cocaine. Here we tested whether optogenetic excitation of CRF-containing neurons in either NAc medial shell,2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-04T13:33:27.48Z2025-02-19T00:37:48.874ZS-EPMC90640963550375610.1371/journal.pone.0267345