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Decreased, not increased phasic dopamine release predict cocaine dependence


This is to me one of the most important paper of the decade in the addiction field. It kicks to the curb both the incentive sensitization theory and the aberrant-learning theory of addiction and is in accordance with the opponent process theory. Good thing our lab is focused on the last one.

A beautiful paper by a great scientist, Ingo Willuhn. A must read.

Excessive cocaine use results from decreased phasic dopamine signaling in the striatum.

Ingo Willuhn, Lauren M Burgeno, Peter A Groblewski & Paul E M Phillips.

Nature Neuroscience 17, 704-709 (2014)

#addiction #accumbens #animalmodel #dopamine #compulsivity #escalation #motivation

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