S. Laviolette, D. Kooy
2004
Citations
5
Influential Citations
447
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Abstract
Nicotine, the primary psychoactive component of tobacco smoke, produces diverse neurophysiological, motivational and behavioural effects through several brain regions and neurochemical pathways. Recent research in the fields of behavioural pharmacology, genetics and electrophysiology is providing an increasingly integrated picture of how the brain processes the motivational effects of nicotine. The emerging characterization of separate dopamine- and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid)-dependent neural systems within the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which can mediate the acute aversive and rewarding psychological effects of nicotine, is providing new insights into how functional interactions between these systems might determine vulnerability to nicotine use.