al. 2009). Innate immune gene induction causes hyperexcitability in the spinal cord related to neuropathic pain (Graeber 2010) and in the hippocampus related to seizures (Maroso et al. 2010). Hyperexcitability in the frontal cortex results in loss of cognitive flexibility creating addiction-like behavior (Gruber 2010). Kalivas' laboratory in elegant studies have established that cocaine and stimulant addiction are related to hyperglutamate states due to alterations in the cortical glutamate transporters, (Reissner and Kalivas 2010). These studies and others have suggested that anti-oxidants and other drugs that block innate immune gene cascades may provide new therapies for addiction.
