Ciencia de la adicción

Reports on evidence that toluene abuse can harm the nervous system and body, although scientists know relatively little about its specific actions.

Describes new tools under development, including one to visualize cells deep in the brain and another one that remotely activates brain cells.

Describes research findings demonstrating that the immune system participates in the shaping of brain circuits during a child's development, a finding that may shed light on the origins of neurodegenerative diseases.

Announces the three winners of the NIDA and Scholastic Corporation 2008 Addiction Science Awards honoring high school students’ award-winning addiction-related projects.

Remembers Henry I. "Hank" Yamamura, an eminent neuropharmacologist who pioneered radioligand binding assays, contributing valuable knowledge about neurotransmitter transporters and receptors.

Describes research findings showing differences in protein concentrations in the brain pleasure centers of people who died from cocaine overdose as compared with those who did not abuse the drug.

Discusses research exploring how widespread the reduction of neural activity is in the brain with chronic exposure to cocaine.

Reports on three separate imaging studies illuminating the neurobiology of cigarette craving.

Highlights an animal study involving the self-administration of nicotine among adolescent and adult rats to gain understanding of their potential vulnerability to the substance.

Reports on NIDA researchers who developed a new tracer compound that binds readily to nicotine receptors and enhances positron emission tomography images.