Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
GABA(A) receptors, drug dependence, dopamine-dependent pathways, alcohol addiction
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
The prevailing model for addiction proposes that neurotransmission of dopamine (DA) in the brain reward system is dysregulated, with enhanced levels during acute drug exposure and reduced levels during drug dependence and withdrawal. One emerging view is that during drug addiction, GABA(A) receptors switch the effect of GABA neurons on DA neurons from inhibitory to excitatory. This has been demonstrated for opiate addiction (Vargas-Perez et al., 2009). Our lab has previously demonstrated that GABA neurons become tolerant to acute ethanol and hyperexcitable during chronic ethanol (Gallegos et al., 1999), which may explain why dopamine neurotransmission is reduced during withdrawal. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of GABA(A) receptor agonists on the firing rate and GABA synaptic transmission to other GABA neurons associated with alcohol dependence.
Recommended Citation
Nielson, Catie and Steffensen, Dr. Scott
(2014)
"Do GABA(A) Receptors switch for all Drug Dependence?: Examining the Dopamine-dependent Pathways of Alcohol Addiction,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014:
Iss.
1, Article 304.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/304