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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience
Published on: August 26, 2014
CREB modulates excitability of nucleus accumbens neurons
Yan Dong1, Thomas Green, Daniel Saal
1Nancy Pritzker Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.
Abstract:
Drugs of abuse cause activation of the cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Expression of active CREB in rat NAc medium spiny neurons (MSNs) increased their excitability, whereas dominant-negative CREB had the opposite effect. Decreasing excitability of NAc MSNs in vivo by overexpression of potassium channels enhanced locomotor responses to cocaine, suggesting that the increased NAc MSN excitability caused by CREB helped to limit behavioral sensitivity to cocaine.
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