Teaching Packets: The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction
- Section I: Introduction to the Brain
- Section II: The Reward Pathway and Addiction
- Section III: The Action of Heroin (Morphine)
- Section IV: The Action of Cocaine
- 1: The action of cocaine
- 2: Snorting vs smoking cocaine: different addictive liabilities
- 3: Localization of cocaine "binding sites"
- 4: Dopamine binding to receptors and uptake pumps in the nucleus accumbens: the action of cocaine
- 5: Cocaine dependence and activation of the reward pathway
- 6: Rats self-administer cocaine
- 7: Summary: addictive drugs activate the reward system via increasing dopamine neurotransmission
- Background Information for the Presenter
3: Localization of cocaine "binding sites"
When a person smokes or snorts cocaine, it reaches all areas of the brain, but it binds to sites in some very specific areas. These are highlighted with the yellow dots: the VTA, the nucleus accumbens, and the caudate nucleus (the largest structure). Point out that cocaine binds especially in the reward areas that you have just discussed. The binding of cocaine in other areas such as the caudate nucleus can explain other effects such as increased stereotypic (or repetitive) behaviors (pacing, nail-biting, scratching, etc..)
This page was last updated January 2007.
Teaching Packets
Explores the consequences of drug abuse on the brain and body and introduces the topics of prevention, and treatment.
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
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