Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and dopamine (DA) are critical for stress and motivation, respectively. The authors show that CRF is synthesized in DA neurons and released in the ventral tegmental area, where it affects GABAergic inputs to DA neurons and mediates the motivational effects of nicotine withdrawal and escalation of nicotine intake.
- Taryn E Grieder
- Melissa A Herman
- Olivier George
