
Exposure to cocaine, and likely other drugs of abuse, generates α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor-silent glutamatergic synapses in the nucleus accumbens. These immature synaptic contacts evolve after drug withdrawal to redefine the neurocircuital properties. These results raise at least three critical questions: (1) what are the molecular and cellular mechanisms that mediate drug-induced generation of silent synapses; (2) how are neurocircuits remodeled upon generation and evolution of drug-generated silent synapses; and (3) what behavioral consequences are produced by silent synapse-based circuitry remodeling? This short review analyzes related experimental results, and extends them to some speculations.
Neuronal Plasticity, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Glutamic Acid, Trends and Perspectives, Adaptation, Physiological, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Synaptic Transmission, Nucleus Accumbens, Behavior, Addictive, Drug Users, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Cocaine, Receptors, Glutamate, Adaptation, Psychological, Animals, Humans, Central Nervous System Stimulants
Neuronal Plasticity, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Glutamic Acid, Trends and Perspectives, Adaptation, Physiological, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Synaptic Transmission, Nucleus Accumbens, Behavior, Addictive, Drug Users, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Cocaine, Receptors, Glutamate, Adaptation, Psychological, Animals, Humans, Central Nervous System Stimulants
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| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
