Anatomy of OFC and Addiction
The OFC projects and is neuronanatomically connected (via the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus) to the nucleus acumbens - which is associated with the reinforcing effects of drug administration. The nucleus acumbens projects back to the OFC, as do dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) - the latter being associated with the positive, reinforcing effects of drugs. Limbic regions including the amygdala, hippocampus and cingulated gyrus also project to the OFC via direct and indirect pathways and it would appear that the OFC is not only the target for reinforcing drug effects but also serves to integrate information from the limbic system, modulating the response of the limbic areas to drugs of abuse (and their rewarding effects).
Read more about this topic: Orbitofrontal Cortex
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