A brain signature that predicts vulnerability to addiction

(CNRS) French team has just shown that within a population of rats it can predict which will become cocaine addicts. Scientists observed abnormal activity in a specific region of the brain, the subthalamic nucleus, only in future addicted individuals, and did so before they were exposed to 'punishment' associated with the seeking for the drug. These results also indicate that it is possible to reduce this compulsive cocaine-seeking behaviour in rats by stimulating the subthalamic nucleus.