Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

1.4K
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
1.4K
Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators

1.6K
γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
1.6K
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

4.6K
Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
4.6K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

133.7K
G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
133.7K
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

6.5K
6.5K
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

1.5K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Avoiding pitfalls: Bayes factors can be a reliable tool for post hoc data selection in implicit learning.

Psychonomic bulletin & review·2021
Same author

The effective coupling coefficient for a completed PIN-PMN-PT array.

Ultrasonics·2020
Same author

Tool use and social homophily among male bottlenose dolphins.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2019
Same author

Galectin-9 suppresses B cell receptor signaling and is regulated by I-branching of N-glycans.

Nature communications·2018
Same author

Role of GABAA receptor subtypes in the behavioural effects of intravenous general anaesthetics.

British journal of anaesthesia·2017
Same author

Multi-modal sexual displays in Australian humpback dolphins.

Scientific reports·2017

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
07:51

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

18.0K

GABAA receptor subtype involvement in addictive behaviour.

D N Stephens1, S L King1, J J Lambert2

  • 1School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

Genes, Brain, and Behavior
|August 20, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Genetic variations in GABAA receptors are linked to addictive behaviors. This review explores how specific GABAA receptor subtypes influence brain circuits and contribute to addiction, particularly alcohol dependency.

Keywords:
Alcoholanimal modelbenzodiazepineconduct disorderelectrophysiologygene associationgene knockoutimpulsivitynucleus accumbenspsychostimulantreward

More Related Videos

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
07:16

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission

Published on: August 16, 2018

14.3K
Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior
10:05

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Published on: September 16, 2015

15.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2026

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors
07:51

Inhibitory Synapse Formation in a Co-culture Model Incorporating GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons and HEK293 Cells Stably Expressing GABAA Receptors

Published on: November 14, 2014

18.0K
Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
07:16

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission

Published on: August 16, 2018

14.3K
Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior
10:05

Rodent Brain Microinjection to Study Molecular Substrates of Motivated Behavior

Published on: September 16, 2015

15.1K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • GABAA receptors are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain.
  • Addictive behaviors are complex and involve multiple neurobiological pathways.
  • Understanding the genetic and molecular underpinnings of addiction is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence linking genetic variations in GABAA receptor isoforms to addictive behaviors in humans.
  • To summarize findings from animal models implicating specific GABAA receptor subtypes in addiction.
  • To explore the role of these receptor subtypes in controlling brain circuit function, particularly the mesolimbic system.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing evidence from human genetic studies and animal models.
  • Analysis of the functional contributions of specific GABAA receptor isoforms to neural circuitry.
  • Integration of findings across different research fields to understand GABAA receptor involvement in addiction.

Main Results:

  • Variations in genes encoding GABAA receptor isoforms are associated with human addictive behaviors.
  • Specific GABAA receptor subtypes are implicated in addiction through animal models.
  • These receptor isoforms play a role in regulating brain circuits, including the mesolimbic system, which is central to reward and addiction.

Conclusions:

  • GABAA receptor subtypes are significantly involved in the neurobiology of addictive behaviors.
  • The findings provide a framework for understanding the potential therapeutic targeting of GABAA receptors for addiction treatment.
  • While much research focuses on alcohol dependency, the principles apply to various addictive behaviors.