Possible Role of the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) in Reward-Controlled Learning and Addiction.
type: Dataset
description: Drug addiction is characterized by loss of control over drug consumption, with compulsive drug seeking and taking, despite obvious adverse consequences. It is a chronic brain disorder since the increased risk of relapse to active drug use remains high even after years of abstinence. Current research attempts to identify the cellular and molecular basis for the neuronal modifications underlying these complex behavioural alterations. Strong evidence indicates that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is a conserved intracellular signalling module, critical for various important for reward-controlled learning and addiction. Moreover, pharmacological and genetic approaches support a role of the ERK pathway in some of the long-term effects of addictive drugs. We suggest that drug-induced stimulation of the ERK pathway by dopamine in specific brain areas may be an exaggeration of its normal role in learning controlled by reward, and may contribute significantly to the acquisition of specific behaviours characteristic of drug addiction.
issued: 2026-05-10T07:36:00.986459
language: en
modified: 2026-05-10T07:36:00.986463
contact point: Organization
  fn: CCSD
keyword: dopamine
keyword: drug-addiction
keyword: extracellular-signal-regulated-kinase
keyword: hronic-brain-disorder
keyword: infoeu-reposemanticsarticle
keyword: journal-articles
keyword: neuronal-modifications
keyword: sdvneusclife-sciences-q-bioneurons-and-cognition-q-bionccognitive-sciences
landing page: 1570-159X

Possible Role of the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) in Reward-Controlled Learning and Addiction.
type: Distribution
format: HTML
issued: 2026-05-10T07:36:00.987714
modified: 2026-05-10T07:36:00.972936
access URL: https://hal.science/hal-00084582

test_moissonnage_selune
type: Agent