Commonalities in addictive behavior, such as craving, stimuli-driven drug seeking, and a high
propensity for relapse following abstinence, have pushed for a unified theory of addiction …

Drug-evoked plasticity at excitatory synapses on medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the
nucleus accumbens (NAc) drives behavioral adaptations in addiction. MSNs expressing …

In addiction, an individual’s ability to inhibit drug seeking and drug taking is thought to reflect
a pathological strengthening of drug-seeking behaviors or impairments in the capacity to …

Cocaine produces a persistent reduction in cystine–glutamate exchange via system x c − in
the nucleus accumbens that may contribute to pathological glutamate signaling linked to …

The addictive properties of psychostimulants such as cocaine are rooted in their ability to
activate the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system. This system consists primarily of …

ML297 was recently identified as a potent and selective small molecule agonist of G-protein–gated
inwardly rectifying K + (GIRK/Kir3) channels. Here, we show ML297 selectively …

Repeated cocaine exposure triggers adaptations in layer 5/6 glutamatergic neurons in the
medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that promote behavioral sensitization and drug-seeking …

Opioid-based drugs are frequently used for pain management in both males and females
despite the known risk of prefrontal cortex dysfunction and cognitive impairments. Although …

G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying K + (GIRK/Kir3) channel activation underlies key physiological
effects of opioids, including analgesia and dependence. GIRK channel activation has …

Despite evidence that morphine-related pathologies reflect adaptations in NAc glutamate
signaling, substantial gaps in basic information remain. The current study examines the impact …