Dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex in addiction: neuroimaging findings and clinical implications

Rita Z. Goldstein, Nora D. Volkow
2011 Nature Reviews Neuroscience  
| The loss of control over drug intake that occurs in addiction was initially believed to result from disruption of subcortical reward circuits. However, imaging studies in addictive behaviours have identified a key involvement of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) both through its regulation of limbic reward regions and its involvement in higher-order executive function (for example, self-control, salience attribution and awareness). This Review focuses on functional neuroimaging studies conducted in
more » ... the past decade that have expanded our understanding of the involvement of the PFC in drug addiction. Disruption of the PFC in addiction underlies not only compulsive drug taking but also accounts for the disadvantageous behaviours that are associated with addiction and the erosion of free will.
doi:10.1038/nrn3119 pmid:22011681 pmcid:PMC3462342 fatcat:vrfpkzqyuvc3tdwno5ahxgqqiu