Author
Gaetano Di Chiara
Other affiliations: National Research Council
Bio: Gaetano Di Chiara is an academic researcher from University of Cagliari. The author has contributed to research in topics: Nucleus accumbens & Dopamine. The author has an hindex of 61, co-authored 133 publications receiving 15105 citations. Previous affiliations of Gaetano Di Chiara include National Research Council.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: Delta9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common mu1 opioid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum.
Abstract: The effects of the active ingredient of Cannabis, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), and of the highly addictive drug heroin on in vivo dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens were compared in Sprague-Dawley rats by brain microdialysis Delta9-THC and heroin increased extracellular dopamine concentrations selectively in the shell of the nucleus accumbens; these effects were mimicked by the synthetic cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2 SR141716A, an antagonist of central cannabinoid receptors, prevented the effects of Delta9-THC but not those of heroin Naloxone, a generic opioid antagonist, administered systemically, or naloxonazine, an antagonist of micro1 opioid receptors, infused into the ventral tegmentum, prevented the action of cannabinoids and heroin on dopamine transmission Thus, Delta9-THC and heroin exert similar effects on mesolimbic dopamine transmission through a common mu1 opioid receptor mechanism located in the ventral mesencephalic tegmentum
1,071 citations
TL;DR: An associative learning hypothesis is proposed according to which stimuli contingent upon drug reward acquire powerful incentive properties after a relatively limited number of predictive associations with the drug and become particularly resistant to extinction.
927 citations
TL;DR: It is speculated that drug addiction results from the impact exerted on behavior by the abnormal DA stimulant properties acquired by drug-conditioned stimuli as a result of their association with addictive drugs.
880 citations
TL;DR: In vivo monitoring studies show that nicotine stimulates dopamine transmission in specific brain areas and in particular, in the shell of the nucleus accumbens and in areas of the extended amygdala, suggesting that nicotine depends on dopamine for those behavioural effects that are most relevant for its reinforcing properties and are likely to be the basis of the abuse liability of tobacco smoke.
656 citations
TL;DR: Dopamine is involved in the induction and in the expression of behavioural sensitization by repeated exposure to various drugs of abuse, and might be instrumental for the acquisition of responding to drug-related incentive stimuli (incentive learning).
615 citations
Cited by
More filters
TL;DR: Findings in this work indicate that dopaminergic neurons in the primate whose fluctuating output apparently signals changes or errors in the predictions of future salient and rewarding events can be understood through quantitative theories of adaptive optimizing control.
Abstract: The capacity to predict future events permits a creature to detect, model, and manipulate the causal structure of its interactions with its environment. Behavioral experiments suggest that learning is driven by changes in the expectations about future salient events such as rewards and punishments. Physiological work has recently complemented these studies by identifying dopaminergic neurons in the primate whose fluctuating output apparently signals changes or errors in the predictions of future salient and rewarding events. Taken together, these findings can be understood through quantitative theories of adaptive optimizing control.
8,163 citations
TL;DR: The delineation of the neurocircuitry of the evolving stages of the addiction syndrome forms a heuristic basis for the search for the molecular, genetic, and neuropharmacological neuroadaptations that are key to vulnerability for developing and maintaining addiction.
4,160 citations
TL;DR: Dopamine systems may have two functions, the phasic transmission of reward information and the tonic enabling of postsynaptic neurons.
Abstract: Schultz, Wolfram. Predictive reward signal of dopamine neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 1–27, 1998. The effects of lesions, receptor blocking, electrical self-stimulation, and drugs of abuse suggest t...
3,962 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that dopamine may be more important to incentive salience attributions to the neural representations of reward-related stimuli and is a distinct component of motivation and reward.
3,833 citations
TL;DR: Pharmacological and biochemical criteria can be used to separate those dopamine receptors which are linked to the enzyme adenylyl cyclase and those which are not.
Abstract: Pharmacological and biochemical criteria can be used to separate those dopamine receptors which are linked to the enzyme adenylyl cyclase and those which are not.
3,746 citations