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Various drugs of abuse affect the brain reward circuit (also called the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system) in a similar manner, and it is believed that these shared effects are vital to the development of addiction. Drug-induced alterations in synaptic activity and plasticity in this brain region might highjack reward-associated learning, and trigger a deceptive signal that indicates that compulsive drug use is necessary for survival. Few studies demonstrate that nicotine modifies synaptic physiology in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain reward circuit. This book discusses my research on the effects of single nicotine exposure on synaptic plasticity and dopamine neuron excitability in the VTA. The results of my work will provide insight into the pharmacology of nicotine, and a basis for future studies on synaptic targets of addictive drugs. This book will be useful to researchers and other individuals interested in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and drug addiction.

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Manjari Murali earned her doctorate in molecular pharmacology and physiology in 2010. She lives with her family in the New England region of the United States. Dr. Murali is an independent contractor for the Alzheimer´s Association, and she teaches college-level courses in neuroscience and cancer biology.

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