title: New approaches to addiction treatment based on learning and memory.
abstract: Preclinical studies suggest that physiological learning processes are similar to changes observed in addicts at the molecular, neuronal, and structural levels. Based on the importance of classical and instrumental conditioning in the development and maintenance of addictive disorders, many have suggested cue-exposure-based extinction training of conditioned, drug-related responses as a potential new treatment of addiction. It may also be possible to facilitate this extinction training with pharmacological compounds that strengthen memory consolidation during cue exposure. Another potential therapeutic intervention would be based on the so-called reconsolidation theory. According to this hypothesis, already-consolidated memories return to a labile state when reactivated, allowing them to undergo another phase of consolidation-reconsolidation, which can be pharmacologically manipulated. These approaches suggest that the extinction of drug-related memories may represent a viable treatment strategy in the future treatment of addiction.
authors: Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Square J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany. falk.kiefer@zi-mannheim.de
authors: Falk
authors: F
authors: Kiefer
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Dinter
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000150:complications*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine