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
Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

3.1K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
3.1K
Drug Dependence01:17

Drug Dependence

1.8K
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
1.8K
Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning01:15

Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning

1.8K
Classical conditioning not only includes the initial pairing of stimuli but also extends to more complex forms, such as higher-order conditioning. Higher-order conditioning involves creating associations beyond the primary conditioned stimulus, resulting in a chain of conditioned responses.
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
1.8K
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

578
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
578
Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation01:18

Incentive Theory: Pull Theory of Motivation

1.0K
Incentive theory, or the "pull theory" of motivation, suggests that external rewards primarily drive behavior. Individuals are motivated to engage in activities when they anticipate a desirable outcome. This is why people often work hard for promotions or study intensively to achieve high grades. These incentives can be tangible, physical rewards such as money or promotions, or intangible, non-physical rewards like praise and social recognition.
The theory differentiates between...
1.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Exploring women's views on factors influencing the quality of maternal care among women of reproductive age in Burkina Faso: a fuzzy cognitive mapping study.

BMC health services research·2026
Same author

Allied health professions (AHP) engagement with and leadership towards actionable carbon reduction interventions to meet the NHS net zero agenda: a consensus study.

BMJ leader·2026
Same author

Horses, hounds and hydrophobia: Henry Bracken's 'strict enquiry' to compare two treatments for rabies in dogs (1737).

Journal of medical biography·2026
Same author

'No cure no money': Reverend William Vickers' account of the perils of private medicine in eighteenth century London (1711).

Journal of medical biography·2026
Same author

Transcriptional regulation of ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens circuit excitability drives cocaine seeking.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Green tea, sage, water and wine: Thomas Short's comparative experiment on speed of digestion (1730).

Journal of medical biography·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 5, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

7.9K

Reward Circuitry in Addiction.

Sarah Cooper1, A J Robison1,2, Michelle S Mazei-Robison3,4

  • 1Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.

Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics
|March 22, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Understanding brain reward circuitry is key for treating addiction, obesity, and depression. Research reveals how cocaine alters these circuits, paving the way for new therapies.

Keywords:
Cocainedopamineglutamatenucleus accumbensrewardventral tegmental area

More Related Videos

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience
08:14

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience

Published on: August 26, 2014

12.2K
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 5, 2026

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

7.9K
Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience
08:14

Comprehensive Analysis of Transcription Dynamics from Brain Samples Following Behavioral Experience

Published on: August 26, 2014

12.2K
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
  • Molecular Biology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Reward circuitry dysfunction is implicated in addiction, obesity, and depression.
  • The mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathway is crucial for drug reward.
  • Cocaine exposure induces synaptic and structural adaptations in reward circuits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the organization and function of reward circuitry.
  • To explore molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic and structural plasticity in addiction.
  • To highlight the translation of preclinical findings into clinical treatments for cocaine dependence.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on reward circuitry and addiction.
  • Analysis of studies using genetics-based tools to investigate neuronal activity.
  • Examination of molecular changes, including signaling pathways and receptor function.

Main Results:

  • Genetics-based tools reveal functional changes in reward circuitry contributing to addiction facets like relapse and craving.
  • Specific microcircuit molecular changes (e.g., neurotrophic factors, GTPase signaling, AMPA receptor function) underlie drug-induced plasticity.
  • Preclinical findings are informing clinical trials for cocaine dependence.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding plasticity in the drug reward circuit is essential for developing novel addiction treatments.
  • Targeting molecular mechanisms and circuit adaptations offers therapeutic potential.
  • Bridging preclinical research with clinical application is advancing addiction therapy.