Ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors are also well established targets for alcohol action (D’Souza, 2015). Glutamate, which modulates dopamine cells and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, is critical for the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse and contributes to the neuroplastic changes associated with conditioned responses and craving (Koob and Volkow, 2010; Volkow et al., 2016).
