2010). In addition, neurons of the dorsal ACC process information regarding both reward (magnitude and expectancy) and action (Shidara and Richmond 2002; Hayden and Platt 2010). Interestingly, in drug dependence, older studies found that lesions in ACC may reduce drug taking (Sharma 1974; Kanaka and Balasubramaniam 1978), which might explain the high ACC activation in SAs. The amygdala is known to process motivationally significant stimuli, but is also involved in active fear extinction and reinforcer devaluation (Morrison and Salzman 2010),

while the anterior cingulate activates during conflict Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical resolution (Zaki et al. 2010), for example, in abstinent drug-dependent individuals when faced Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with drug-related stimuli. The NcA is part of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop, and is important in drug-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior. In addition, the NcA is prone to synaptic plasticity changes following drug use (Chen et al. 2010; Li et al. 2010; Russo et al. 2010). Furthermore, this brain area features prominently in drug addiction studies, and it has been hypothesized that the amount of striatal DA receptors may predict the predisposition

or development of addiction (Nader et al. 2006; Piray et al. 2010). Many studies have replicated findings of increased limbic activation during processing of cocaine cues, which includes activation of the hippocampus, VTA, and thalamus, establishing the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical importance of the reward circuitry and the role of distinct brain memory systems in the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical encoding and retrieval of drug-related memories in drug-dependent

individuals (Robbins et al. 2008; Sun et al. 2010). In correspondence with the selleck inhibitor I-RISA model, consistent findings of limbic dysregulation in SAs were found during cue-reactivity imaging, which probably reflects altered valuation Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of drug rewards. Section 3: Impulsivity in stimulant dependence Task paradigms and behavioral findings of impulsivity Impulsivity is a multi-domain concept involving several independent aspects, and thus has no unique neurological basis (Evenden science 1999). Impulsivity has at least two major components: motor impulsivity (impulsive action or disinhibition), and cognitive impulsivity (impulsive choice). Both aspects are associated with the hallmarks of drug dependence according to DSM-IV: taking the substance longer and more often than originally intended; unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control drug intake; and spending more time and effort to obtain the drug (American Psychiatric Association 1994). High impulsivity levels are commonly associated with drug dependence and are postulated to underlie the etiology as well as the continuation of drug dependence (Adinoff et al. 2007; Verdejo-Garcia et al. 2008; Crews and Boettiger 2009; Wit 2009). In addition, motor and cognitive impulsivity are often correlated with relapse (Moeller et al. 2001; Adinoff et al. 2007).