Topic: mesolimbic dopamine system

The mesolimbic dopamine system is believed to regulate both reinforcement learning and motivation to obtain rewards. A central question is how the mesolimbic dopamine system influences these distinct functions. A classical neural circuit model proposes a two-component system in which dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core encodes prediction error signals to regulate reinforcement learning while dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell signals incentive salience and promotes motivated responses. Here we record bulk calcium dynamics in projection-specific ventral tegmental area (V

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking. There is lot of interest in gaining a better understanding of how acupuncture works in the brain to modulate addictive behaviors. The current study aims to discuss the neurobiological mechanisms underlying acupuncture’s effectiveness in the treatment of drug addiction, on the basis of two different theories (the incentive sensitization theory and the opponent process theory) that have seemingly opposite views on the role of the mesolimbic reward pathways in mediating compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Resul