In alcoholism and addictive drugs repeated exposure triggers glutamatergic and GABAergic plasticity in many neuronal populations. The dorsomedial striatum (DMS), a brain region critically involved in addiction, contains medium spiny neurons expressing dopamine D1 or D2 receptors, which form direct and indirect pathways, respectively. However, it is unclear how alcohol-evoked plasticity in the DMS contributes to alcohol consumption in a cell type-specific manner.  Now, a … Continue reading Researchers identify and successfully activate neurons that tell the brain to stop drinking.