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REVIEW article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Addictive Disorders
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1439727

Neurotransmitters Crosstalk and Regulation in the Reward Circuit of Subjects with Behavioral Addiction

Provisionally accepted
Zhenlei Peng Zhenlei Peng 1Qiyu Jia Qiyu Jia 1Junxiong Mao Junxiong Mao 1*Xiao Luo Xiao Luo 1*Anqi Huang Anqi Huang 2*Hao Zheng Hao Zheng 3Shijie Jiang Shijie Jiang 1*Qi Ma Qi Ma 1Chuang Ma Chuang Ma 1*Qizhong Yi Qizhong Yi 1*
  • 1 First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
  • 2 Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
  • 3 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Behavioral addictive disorders (BADs) have become a significant societal challenge over time.The central feature of BADs is the loss of control over engaging in and continuing behaviors, even when facing negative consequences. The neurobiological underpinnings of BADs primarily involve impairments in the reward circuitry, encompassing the ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens in the ventral striatum, and prefrontal cortex. These brain regions form networks that communicate through neurotransmitter signaling, leading to neurobiological changes in individuals with behavioral addictions. While dopamine has long been associated with the reward process, recent research highlights the role of other key neurotransmitters like serotonin, glutamate, and endorphins in BADs' development. These neurotransmitters interact within the reward circuitry, creating potential targets for therapeutic intervention. This improved understanding of neurotransmitter systems provides a foundation for developing targeted treatments and helps clinicians select personalized therapeutic approaches.

    Keywords: Behavioral Addictive Disorders, reward circuit, neurotransmitters, Dopamine, crosstalk

    Received: 28 May 2024; Accepted: 26 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Peng, Jia, Mao, Luo, Huang, Zheng, Jiang, Ma, Ma and Yi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Junxiong Mao, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
    Xiao Luo, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
    Anqi Huang, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
    Shijie Jiang, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
    Chuang Ma, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
    Qizhong Yi, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.