Figure 1.

Dopamine-glutamate circuitry underlying CS-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. VTA dopamine (DA) input into the NAcore mediates CS-induced reinstatement. DA input into the PFC may also modulate rapid, transient glutamatergic plasticity in the NAcore in response to drug-associated CSs and mediates drug seeking behavior. DA input into the BLA may alter excitatory inputs into the NAcore and reciprocal BLA-PFC signaling. As well, DA input into the vHPC has been implicated in CS-induced reinstatement of drug seeking, and glutamatergic projections from the vHPC to the VTA may be an indirect pathway through which the HPC modulates dopaminergic input into other brain regions.