Skip to ContentGo to accessibility page
OpenStax Logo
Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience

Section Summary

Introduction to Behavioral NeuroscienceSection Summary

Section Summary

14.1 Basic Principles of Pharmacology

Access multimedia content

Factors such as the route of administration and the rate of absorption, metabolism, and excretion can impact the ultimate concentration of a drug that ends up in the circulatory system. Drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier can interact with neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain through a variety of mechanisms that can ultimately impact neuronal signaling. Understanding the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile of drugs is essential for predicting their effects on mood, cognition and behavior.

14.2 Psychotherapeutics

Psychotherapeutics are prescription drugs used for the treatment of mental disorders. Benzodiazepines, a class of drugs commonly used to treat anxiety, alleviate symptoms by increasing GABAergic signaling in the brain. SSRIs are first-line treatments for depression that increase serotonin levels by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, though their therapeutic effects likely involve other neurotransmitter systems. Recent research investigating the therapeutic effects of psychedelics has revealed novel mechanisms for antidepressant effects. Antipsychotics that block dopamine D2 receptors reduce positive symptoms of schizophrenia, whereas the modulation of multiple neurotransmitter systems appears to be more effective in treating negative symptoms. Lastly, psychostimulants help increase attention and focus in patients with ADHD by enhancing dopamine signaling in the prefrontal cortex.

14.3 Neural Circuitry of Drug Reward

The mesocorticolimbic dopamine reward pathway plays a crucial role in the reward-related cognitive processes that reinforce pleasurable stimuli and experiences. Consequently, the anticipation of these positive emotions contributes to motivation to seek out the rewarding stimulus. The majority of commonly used psychoactive drugs activate the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system in some manner. Enhanced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens is believed to underlie the reinforcing effects of these drugs.

14.4 Neurobiology of Addiction

There are many different reasons why an individual may initiate drug use. However, a single or even a few exposures to a drug rarely result in a SUD. The transition from controlled to compulsive drug use is likely mediated by drug-induced neuroplastic changes in brain reward and stress response circuits that enhance incentive salience for drug-related cues and generate negative emotional states in the absence of the drug. Although the neurobiological framework for studying addiction has helped to advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms that mediate drug-seeking behavior, it is important to also consider the societal, social, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to the overall risk of developing a SUD.

PreviousNext
Order a print copy
Citation/Attribution
Reuse and redistribution of this content in digital or print format:
  • This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's prior written permission.
  • This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, which means that you can reuse and modify the material only for noncommercial purposes, must attribute OpenStax, and must distribute any derivative works under the same license.
  • Any commercial printing of this textbook, including using a local or custom printer, must be approved by OpenStax, and proper citation provided.
  • OpenStax-copyrighted images, activities, assessments, and similar components of this book are subject to the same licensing – CC-BY-NC-SA. They can be used for noncommercial purposes with attribution. Commercial use requires permission.
  • Permission requests: Anyone who intends to incorporate this content (including text, images, and other components) into large language models, use it in AI offerings, use it commercially (including in print), and/or has questions about another use case is welcome to complete our reuse request form.
Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-behavioral-neuroscience/pages/1-introduction

  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a noncommercial digital format, then for every page that includes OpenStax content, you must license the derivative work under the same CC-BY-NC-SA license as the original, and include on every digital page view the following attribution:

    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-behavioral-neuroscience/pages/1-introduction

Citation information

The information below includes the information needed to generate citations in most major styles (APA, MLA, etc.); you must reformat and organize the information as needed to fit the requirements of the style. Use the information below to generate a citation. We recommend using a citation tool such as this one.

© Apr 23, 2026 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo, and Rice University name, and Rice University logo trademarks, or wordmarks are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.