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The Neurobiology of Addiction: An Overview

Addiction can be defined in part as a compulsion to use alcohol or other drugs and the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms when long-term consumption ceases. In addition to physical symptoms related to nervous system hyperexcitability, withdrawal includes changes in mental state that may motivate rene...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Roberts, Amanda J., Koob, George F.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 1997
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826825/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15704343
Descripción
Sumario:Addiction can be defined in part as a compulsion to use alcohol or other drugs and the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms when long-term consumption ceases. In addition to physical symptoms related to nervous system hyperexcitability, withdrawal includes changes in mental state that may motivate renewed AOD consumption. The manifestations of addiction are associated with changes in nerve cell function by which the brain attempts to adapt to a drug’s presence. These functional changes modulate a person’s initial response to a drug, the establishment of long-term craving for the drug (i.e., addiction), and the persistent sense of discomfort that leads to relapse after abstinence has been achieved. Research is beginning to reveal how specific brain regions may be integrated to form neural circuits that modulate aspects of addiction.