Addiction, compulsive drug seeking, and the role of frontostriatal mechanisms in regulating inhibitory control
Abstract
A principal feature of drug addiction is a reduced ability to regulate control over the desire to procure drugs regardless of the risks involved. Traditional models implicated the neural 'reward' system in providing a neurobiological model of addiction. Newer models however, have expanded on this circuitry to include two separate, but interconnecting systems, the limbic system in the incentive sensitization of drugs, and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in regulating inhibitory control over drug use. Until the recent developments in neuroimaging and brain stimulation techniques, it has been extremely difficult to assess the involvement of the PFC in addiction. In the current review, we explore the involvement of the frontostriatal circuitry in regulating inhibitory control, and suggest how dysregulation of these circuits could be involved in an increased difficulty in ceasing drug use. Following this, we investigate the recent neuropsychological, neuroimaging and brain stimulation studies that explore the presence of these inhibitory deficits, and frontostriatal dysfunctions, across various different substance groups. Further insight into these deficits could contribute to the development of treatment strategies which target these cognitive impairments, and frontostriatal dysfunction, in reducing drug-seeking behaviors.
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Connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and striatal regions has been consistently shown to be disrupted in individuals with SUDs.
“The connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and striatal regions has been consistently shown to be disrupted in individuals with SUDs 59,63,64 .”
From Substance use disorders: a comprehensive update of classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention (2023) · cites this paper as [64]
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- Authors
- Feil, J., Sheppard, D., Fitzgerald, P. B., Yücel, M., Lubman, D. I., & Bradshaw, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Monash University (AU)
- The Alfred Hospital (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-11
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 248-275
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2030055333
- Cited by
- 342
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 8.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- drug addiction, compulsive drug seeking, frontostriatal circuits, inhibitory control, prefrontal cortex, reward systems, incentive sensitization, limbic system, substance use disorders, brain stimulation, neuroimaging of addiction
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain Mapping, Compulsive Behavior, Corpus Striatum, Frontal Lobe, Humans, Inhibition, Psychological, Models, Neurological, Neural Pathways, Illicit Drugs, Behavior, Addictive, Substance-Related Disorders, Drug-Seeking Behavior
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