The study conducted by a research team at the Medical University of South Carolina focused on how drug-context associations are regulated in the brain, specifically in the nucleus accumbens, by NPAS4. This transcription factor plays a crucial role in forming these associations, which can trigger drug-seeking behaviors in individuals with substance use disorders. The study found that NPAS4 in D2 neurons, not D1, is necessary for context-associated drug seeking, strengthening the associations and potentially increasing the likelihood of relapse. Understanding these processes could lead to the development of new therapeutic targets to prevent a return to drug use.
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Study reveals how NPAS4 regulates drug-context associations and impacts relapse
