2005) and cognitive behavioral therapy (Clay et al., 2008). These therapies through councilor promoted processes increase use of the frontal cortex through discussions of motivation and attention to actions as well as planning and setting of goals on how to maintain non-addictive behavior. The counseling sessions themselves activate frontal cortical executive functions that through use and activation likely help promote maintenance of controlled behavior. These activaton of executive functions increases attention and frontal lobe function reducing impulsivity and preventing relapse (Fig. 8). Motivation is a key component of the behavioral change needed for recovery and is related to frontal cortical function, particularly prefrontal/cingulate areas (Bonelli and Cummings, 2007). As mentioned previously, naltrexone pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence increases frontal cortical activation (Boettiger et al., in press). Thus, the neurobiology of behavioral change in recovery from addiction may represent levels of frontal cortical involvement in regulating behavioral change and psychotherapy tends to use frontal cortical activation through motivated attention and goal setting and pharmacotherapy also enhances frontal activation consistent with successful addiction therapy using frontal circuits to motivate and attend to negative consequences and long-term goals.
