extended amygdala (ie, central nucleus of the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; tables 1, 2, circuits 16 and 17)22,33,53,96–98 and the ventral tegmental area (tables 1, 2, circuit 9). Protracted abstinence, largely described in alcohol dependence models, appears to involve overactive glutamatergic and CRF systems.99,100 Based on animal studies using rodents, increases in activity of the prefrontalglutamatergic system could be hypothesised to elicit a strong glutamatergic response that mediates craving-like responses during the preoccupation/anticipation stage (tables 1, 2, circuits 10 and 11).
