The ventral tegmental area dopamine (VTA-DA) mesolimbic circuit processes emotional,
motivational, and social reward associations together with their more demanding cognitive …

It is now widely accepted that good welfare is not simply the absence of negative
experiences, but rather is primarily the presence of positive experiences such as pleasure …

Aversive events rapidly and potently excite certain dopamine neurons in the ventral
tegmental area (VTA), promoting phasic increases in the medial prefrontal cortex and …

Background Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that has recently been recognized as a
factor contributing to enhanced vulnerability to drug abuse. Objectives In the present review …

Depression is one of the most disabling medical conditions in the world today, yet its
etiologies remain unclear and current treatments are not wholly effective. Animal models are …

Social interactions serve as an evolutionarily important source of stress, and one that is
virtually ubiquitous among mammalian species. Animal models of social stress are varied …

In contrast with the many studies of stress effects on the brain, relatively little is known about
the molecular mechanisms of resilience, the ability of some individuals to escape the …

In this review we propose that there are sex differences in how men and women enter onto
the path that can lead to addiction. Males are more likely than females to engage in risky …

Studies on social defeat in humans, and their similarities with studies on social defeat in
animals are reviewed. Studies on social defeat in humans typically are conducted as a …

Nicotine has been shown to have effects on anxiety and depression in both human and
animal studies. These studies suggest that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) can …