Dopamine receptors in the learning, memory and drug reward circuitry.
As primary targets of a variety of abused drugs G-protein-coupled dopamine receptors in the brain play an important role in mediating the various drug-induced alterations in neural and psychological processes thought to underlie the transition from voluntary drug use to habitual and progressively compulsive drug-taking. This review considers the functional involvement of the five major dopamine receptor subtypes in drug reinforcement and reward and discusses the development of addiction as a series of learning transitions from initial goal-directed behaviour to pathological stimulus-response habits in which drug-seeking behaviours are automatically elicited and maintained by cues and stimuli associated with drug rewards.
Dalley
Jeffrey W
JW
Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. jwd20@cam.ac.uk
Everitt
Barry J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D012201:Reward; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine