Nora Volkow APA kongres

1. The Neurobiology of Free Will
in Addictive Disorders
Nora Volkow
APA San Diego
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007

2. Addicted Brain
Control
Drive
Saliency
Memory
STOP
Non Addicted Brain
GO
Control
Drive
Saliency
Memory

3. Medication for relapse prevention
GO
Control
Drive
Memory
Strengthen
reinforcing effects of
non-drug reinforces
Strengthen inhibitory
control
Interfere with conditioned
memories (craving)
Counteract stress
responses that lead to
relapse
Saliency

4. 2nd
D2R
Vector
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Percent
Change
in
D2R
4 6 8 10 24
p < 0.0005
p < 0.0005
p < 0.005
p < 0.10
p < 0.005
1st
D2R
Vector
0
Null
Vector
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
Time (days)
4 6 8 10 24
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.001
p < 0.01
p < 0.01
0
Overexpression of
DA D2 receptors
reduces alcohol
self-administration
Source: Thanos, PK et al., J Neurochem, 78, pp. 1094-1103, 2001.
Effects of Tx with an Adenovirus Carrying a DA
D2 Receptor Gene into NAc in DA D2 receptors