Neural circuit selective for fast but not slow dopamine increases in drug reward

This study investigated the brain circuits underlying the rate dependency of drug reward. Using simultaneous PET-fMRI, the researchers linked dopamine signaling dynamics, brain activity/connectivity, and self-reported 'high' in adults receiving methylphenidate orally and intravenously. A corticostriatal circuit involving the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and insula, and their connections with the dorsal caudate, was selectively activated by fast (but not slow) dopamine increases and correlated with 'high' ratings. These findings highlight the role of the salience network in drug reward.

Peter Manza, Dardo Tomasi, Ehsan Shokri-Kojori, Rui Zhang, Danielle Kroll, Dana Feldman, Katherine McPherson, Catherine Biesecker, Evan Dennis, Allison Johnson, Kai Yuan, Wen-Tung Wang, Michele-Vera Yonga, Gene-Jack Wang, Nora D. Volkow