Nucleus accumbens

The nucleus accumbens (Acb) is part of the striato-pallido-thalamo-cortical loop although it also collects a large amount of information from other limbic structures including the BlA, hippocampus and pre-frontal cortex. It plays a central role in the brain reward circuit and consequently in the drug dependency process.

Its function relies on two main neurotransmitters, dopamine, which is an amplifier of desire and pleasure, and serotonin that produces feelings of inhibition and satiety.

It has been shown experimentally in human beings that all drugs without exception significantly increase the production of dopamine in the nucleus accubens while reducing production of serotonin at the same time. This involves progressive adaptation in the reward circuit which is partly inhibited by repeated use of drugs.

This leads to the tolerance phenomenon leading to increased doses of the drug being needed to experience the same effect as during the previous dose.