Cocaine and morphine produce similar addiction-related behaviors, but different adaptations at accumbens synapses. The authors explain this paradox, showing that both drugs generate silent synapses in distinct neuronal types: cocaine in D1 type and morphine in D2 type. Withdrawal strengthens cocaine-generated silent synapses and weakens morphine-generated ones, producing common circuit effects.
- Nicholas M Graziane
- Shichao Sun
- Yan Dong
