Repeated cocaine exposure enhances excitatory connections onto medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The authors show that cocaine selectively increases basolateral amygdala inputs onto direct pathway MSNs in the NAc medial shell. Inhibiting amygdala activity prevents this plasticity and blocks the increase in spine density on these neurons.
- Andrew F MacAskill
- John M Cassel
- Adam G Carter
