IMR Press / JIN / Volume 22 / Issue 6 / DOI: 10.31083/j.jin2206147
Open Access Review
The Role of the Cerebellum in Drug Reward: A Review
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1 Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, 133002 Yanji, Jilin, China
*Correspondence: lanyan@ybu.edu.cn (Yan Lan)
J. Integr. Neurosci. 2023, 22(6), 147; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2206147
Submitted: 2 July 2023 | Revised: 5 August 2023 | Accepted: 22 August 2023 | Published: 23 October 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Drug abuse remains a global problem; nonetheless, its mechanism has not yet been fully understood. Recent studies have reported on the non-motor functions of the cerebellum, and evidence from neuroimaging and behavioral studies has suggested the role of cerebellum in drug reward, which has received increasing attention. Furthermore, emerging technological developments have aided in clarifying the various circuits and functions of the cerebellum. Exploring the role of the cerebellum in drug reward can improve our understanding of the mechanism underlying addiction and facilitate the development of new treatment schemes. This review summarizes the anatomy of the cerebellum and its connections to brain regions considered important in addiction. Subsequently, we investigate the neurological reasons elucidating why the cerebellum is a potential target for drug reward. Additionally, we expound the molecular targets of addictive drugs in the cerebellum, mainly glutamate and endocannabinoids. Unlike previous studies, this article focuses on the influence of alcohol, nicotine, morphine, cannabis, and cocaine on the cerebellum from multiple viewpoints, including imaging and behavioral changes, molecular signals, neurotransmitters, and synaptic transmission. We aim to clarify some drug-induced cerebellar changes to supplement the previous research regarding the relationship between addiction and the cerebellum. Finally, we discuss the limitations and prospects of drug reward research on the cerebellum to provide novel insights into studying the cerebellum and its role in addiction. We recommend that future addiction network models should include the cerebellum to provide new therapeutic targets for treating addiction.

Keywords
cerebellum
drug reward
morphine
alcohol
nicotine
cannabis
cocaine
addiction
Funding
20210402004GH/International Cooperation Project of Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province
2023C040-7/Development and Reform Commission of Jilin Province
202210184016/Jilin College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program
Figures
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