Synaptic plasticity and addiction

Drugs of abuse alter synaptic plasticity mechanisms in key brain circuits. Kauer and Malenka review the drug-induced synaptic modifications that take place in the mesolimbic dopamine system, which is central to reward processing and contributes to addiction. Addiction is caused, in part, by powerful and long-lasting memories of the drug experience. Relapse caused by exposure to cues associated with the drug experience is a major clinical problem...