Topic: CTAP

Reinforcement learning requires phasic dopamine (DA) release in the forebrain. Canonical hypothesis explaining reinforcing effects of opioids points to a critical role of the activation of the mu opioid receptors (MOR) in the in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). These receptors are thought to be expressed on the local GABAergic interneurons, and their activation leads to GABAergic neurons inhibition, which in turn disinhibit dopaminergic cells. Such disinhibition increases dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However the mode of DA release (tonic vs phasic) is not well differe