Question

How does cocaine and other drugs affect dopamine receptors in nerves?

Answer 1

Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter involved in the reward pathways in the brain. Thus, drugs that increase dopamine signaling may produce euphoric effects. Many recreational drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, alter the functionality of the dopamine transporter (DAT), the protein responsible for removing dopamine from the neural synapse. When DAT activity is blocked, the synapse floods with dopamine and increases dopaminergic signaling. When this occurs, particularly in the nucleus accumbens,[22] increased D1[19] and D2[22] receptor signaling mediates the "rewarding" stimulus of drug intake.[22] Reward pathway signaling can affect other regions of the brain as well, inducing long-term changes in regions such as the nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex;[citation needed] these changes can strengthen drug craving and alter cognitive pathways, with drug abuse potentially creating drug addiction and drug dependence