The latest research from Mount Sinai Hospital and The Rockefeller University has unveiled a groundbreaking discovery on the neural underpinnings of drug addiction. A study published in Science reveals how drugs like cocaine and morphine manipulate the same brain cells responsible for processing natural rewards, leading to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors.
Using advanced neuroscientific techniques in mouse models, researchers tracked how neurons in the nucleus accumbens respond to both natural rewards and drugs. The study identifies specific neurons in the nucleus accumbens affected by both natural rewards and drugs, explaining the mechanism behind addiction. Potential therapeutic targets like the mTORC1 signaling pathway and the Rheb gene have been identified, offering hope for new addiction treatments.
Dr. Eric J. Nestler, leading the research team, explains that drugs engage and alter the functioning of the same brain cells responsible for natural rewards. The study sheds light on the role of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in disrupting natural reward processing by drugs, providing valuable insights into addiction pathology.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the research promises new insights into addiction and offers a landmark dataset for researchers in the field of substance use disorder. The interdisciplinary team plans to continue investigating the cellular biology of addiction neuroscience to develop new therapeutic targets for addiction treatment, paving the way for innovative approaches to tackling drug addiction.
