Understanding Addiction: Dopamine and Brain Function

Article Figures & Data

Figures

  • Figure 1.

    Dopamine Modulation by Abused Drugs

    DA=dopamine; GABA=gamma-aminobutyric acid; LDT=lateral dorsal tegmentum; NAc=nucleus accumbens; PCP=phencyclidine; PPT=peduncular pontine tegmentum; VTA=ventral tegmental area of Tsai.Reproduced from Nester El. Is there a common molecular pathway for addiction? Nat Neurosci 2005;8(11):1445–1449. With permission from the Nature Publishing Group.
  • Figure 2.

    Family History of Alcoholism Affects Brain Function

    CG=anterior cingulate gyrus; D2R=dopamine 2 receptor; OFC=orbitofrontal cortex.Reproduced from Volkow ND et al. High levels of dopamine D2 receptors in unaffected members of alcoholic families: possible protective factors. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006;63(9):999–1008. With permission from the American Medical Association.