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| • |
Cocaine and
amphetamines increase dopamine
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release in the
brain, especially in the shell of the
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nucleus
accumbens. The nucleus accumbens
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shell receives
dopaminergic input from midbrain
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dopamine neurons,
and it projects to the
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hypothalamus and
limbic structures mediating
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emotional
responses. Both drugs appear to
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work by blocking
the dopamine transporter
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responsible for
dopamine reuptake, thus leaving
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dopamine present
in the synapse.
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| • |
Nicotine also
enhances dopamine release, by
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acting on
presynaptic cholinergic receptors.
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