Functional tolerance and blockade of long-term depression at synapses in the nucleus accumbens after chronic cannabinoid exposure.
Journal of Neuroscience June 15, 2003 Alexander F. Hoffman, Murat Oz, Tara Caulder et al.
The rewarding properties of the psychoactive constituents of marijuana, termed "cannabinoids," may reflect actions on synaptic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Furthermore, long-term changes in these synapses may support the addictive process. Excitatory and inhibitory synapses are acutely inhibited by cannabinoids in the NAc, and endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) play a...