Some scientists in the WSU Neurology department are addicted to drug abuse research, like researcher Bradley Winters.

In his latest science fix, Winters affirmed a cellular factor for the emotional slumps and lack of motivation experienced by cocaine addicts in withdrawal.

Winters has been researching the effects of cocaine on emotions for several years, and recently published a paper in the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Its a very good piece of research being published in really prestigious journals, said Steve Simasko, WSU director of neurology.

Winters research focuses on cells in a region of the brain, the nucleus accumbens, that helps translate emotional drives into motivation for action. That region is strongly affected by drug abuse and is ultimately responsible for the all-encompassing need that addicts feel to get more of the drug.

The nucleus accumbens is the input region of the brain for what is called the Basal Ganglia system, which governs action selection by filtering out unwanted options for any given action or response. In some ways, it determines what we do.

The region adds what Winters calls the emotional flavor to the nervous system.

Its how your emotions affect the way you think and what you do throughout the day, he said.

He focused on cells that produced a molecule called the Cannabanoid Receptor 1 (CB1), which is most famous for being the cell type activated by smoking marijuana, Winters said.

We knew that the cells that expressed CB1 were important because of the effects marijuana has on mood, Winters said.

Original post:
WSU Neurology department researches cocaine withdrawal