title: Endocannabinoid signalling in reward and addiction.
abstract: Brain endocannabinoid (eCB) signalling influences the motivation for natural rewards (such as palatable food, sexual activity and social interaction) and modulates the rewarding effects of addictive drugs. Pathological forms of natural and drug-induced reward are associated with dysregulated eCB signalling that may derive from pre-existing genetic factors or from prolonged drug exposure. Impaired eCB signalling contributes to dysregulated synaptic plasticity, increased stress responsivity, negative emotional states and cravings that propel addiction. Understanding the contributions of eCB disruptions to behavioural and physiological traits provides insight into the eCB influence on addiction vulnerability.
authors.affiliation: Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Loren H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York City, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Yasmin L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Hurd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D012201:Reward; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids