Nora D. Volkow

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.

TL;DR: Cellular adaptations in prefrontal glutamatergic innervation of the accumbens promote the compulsive character of drug seeking in addicts by decreasing the value of natural rewards, diminishing cognitive control (choice), and enhancing glutamatorgic drive in response to drug-associated stimuli.

TL;DR: An integrated model of drug addiction that encompasses intoxication, bingeing, withdrawal, and craving is proposed, and results imply that addiction connotes cortically regulated cognitive and emotional processes, which result in the overvaluing of drug reinforcers, the undervalued of alternative rein forcers, and deficits in inhibitory control for drug responses.

TL;DR: As marijuana use becomes legal in some states, the dominant public opinion is that marijuana is a harmless source of mood alteration, but enough information is available to cause concern.

TL;DR: Functional neuroimaging studies conducted in the past decade that have expanded the understanding of the involvement of the PFC in drug addiction are focused on.