Template:Addiction-related plasticity

Form of neuroplasticity
or behavioral plasticity
Type of reinforcer Sources
Opiates Psychostimulants High fat or sugar food Sexual intercourse Physical exercise
(aerobic)
Environmental
enrichment
ΔFosB expression in
nucleus accumbens D1-type MSNsTooltip medium spiny neurons
[1]
Behavioral plasticity
Escalation of intake Yes Yes Yes [1]
Psychostimulant
cross-sensitization
Yes Not applicable Yes Yes Attenuated Attenuated [1]
Psychostimulant
self-administration
[1]
Psychostimulant
conditioned place preference
[1]
Reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior [1]
Neurochemical plasticity
CREBTooltip cAMP response element-binding protein phosphorylation
in the nucleus accumbens
[1]
Sensitized dopamine response
in the nucleus accumbens
No Yes No Yes [1]
Altered striatal dopamine signaling DRD2, ↑DRD3 DRD1, ↓DRD2, ↑DRD3 DRD1, ↓DRD2, ↑DRD3 DRD2 DRD2 [1]
Altered striatal opioid signaling No change or
μ-opioid receptors
μ-opioid receptors
κ-opioid receptors
μ-opioid receptors μ-opioid receptors No change No change [1]
Changes in striatal opioid peptides dynorphin
No change: enkephalin
dynorphin enkephalin dynorphin dynorphin [1]
Mesocorticolimbic synaptic plasticity
Number of dendrites in the nucleus accumbens [1]
Dendritic spine density in
the nucleus accumbens
[1]