is required for stress-resilience (Dias et al., 2014). Taken together, it can be speculated that genetic variation in MSX1 may lead to altered gene expression of the transcript in the hippocampus and/or striatum associated with compulsive drug and alcohol consumption; whereas a functional disruption of MSX1-β-catenin interactions in the ventral tegmental area may give rise to reduced dopamine signaling characterized by acute and protracted abstinence.
