The neurobiology of psychostimulant addiction

Introduction and development. Psychostimulant drugs encompass amphetamines, natural alkaloids like cocaine, and methyl-xanthynes. These drugs induce a strong dependence, manifested as sensitization and tolerance at a neurobiological level. Sensitization is currently being studied experimentally, and it is made up of two stages: initial induction and consolidated expression. During induction, the mesocorticolimbic circuit along with dopamine and glutamate changes in the ventral tegmentum play a critical role. During expression, addictive habits are consolidated through changes in the corticostriato-amygdaloid loop. Conclusion. All together leads to a consolidated addiction, considered as an anomalous learning process, along with a loss of control over drug taking.