As the site of the cell bodies of the dopaminergic neurons that innervate the nucleus accumbens (nAcc), the VTA is a critical component of the brain’s reward system, and as such is one of the critical presumptive sites of action for the euphoric actions of low to medium levels of alcohol. The VTA is also accepted as being involved in the neuroadaptation that takes place during the stage of positive reinforcement in the process of alcohol addiction.
