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Published on: July 16, 2009
Neuroimaging and drug taking in primates
Kevin S Murnane1, Leonard L Howell
1Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Psychopharmacology
|March 2, 2011
Summary
Neuroimaging advances our understanding of drug addiction by linking human and animal studies. This research highlights the limbic system
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Neuroimaging techniques have significantly advanced the understanding of drug addiction neurobiology.
- These methods offer a translational approach, connecting human and animal study findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility of neuroimaging in understanding the neurobiological basis of drug taking.
- To document the concordance between neuroimaging, neurochemical, and behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- In vivo studies examining drug interactions with dopamine and serotonin transporters.
- Neuroimaging to identify neuronal circuitry involved in drug taking.
- Longitudinal assessments of brain chemistry and function in subjects.
Main Results:
- Identified pharmacological mechanisms of stimulant abuse liability.
- Highlighted the extended limbic system (prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate) in drug taking.
- Linked dysregulation in reward circuitry to drug-taking behavior, cognitive deficits, and treatment response.
Conclusions:
- Future neuroimaging studies should incorporate determinants of drug taking like pharmacokinetics and environmental factors.
- Methodological considerations include probe limitations and anesthetic effects in animal models.
- Integrative neuroimaging approaches are crucial for understanding drug addiction and improving treatment.
