Alcohol affects the mesocorticolimbic and striatal circuitries as well as the HPA axis response [21, 22]. The initial effect of alcohol is mediated by activation of dopaminergic projections from the VTA to the Acb [17]. The transition from habitual drinking to compulsive drinking involves the dorsal striatum (dStr), mediating the stress-induced seeking and habitual use of alcohol [13], as well as the cortical regions, such as the mPFC and cingulate cortex (CCx), which are responsible for cognitive control functioning [17]. Projections from the Amy to the HPA axis and Acb mediate the development of negative reinforcement [17]. Nevertheless, the molecular underpinnings of how ELS leads to alcohol misuse are still not well understood [23].
