Team finds 'switch' for cocaine addiction
By Zhou Wenting in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2015-07-21 07:51
Scientists in Shanghai may have discovered a way to turn cocaine addiction on and off through a switchlike protein.
Cocaine affects the brain by increasing the level of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays important roles in many brain functions, including the feeling of reward and pleasure.
The drug works by inhibiting proteins that reabsorb dopamine, causing it to build up and leading to a "high".
Photo