Endocannabinoid system: A newer molecular target for the treatment of alcohol-related behaviors

Figure 1 Limbic reward circuit. The diagram represents a reward circuitry in the rat brain. Highlighted are the nuclei representing the limbic structures of the basal forebrain including the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), ventral pallidum (VP) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Dopaminergic neurons in the VTA modulate information flow through the limbic circuit via projections to the NAc, amygdala, hippocampus, PFC and VP. Increase in the dopaminergic transmission in the limbic nuclei, particularly the NAc, may underlie the reinforcing effect of abused drug (Source: Sigma Aldrich).