Abstract

Neurobiology of Addiction is conceived as a current survey and synthesis of the most important findings in our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction over the past 50 years. The book includes a scholarly introduction, thorough descriptions of animal models of addiction, and separate chapters on the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction for psychostimulants, opioids, alcohol, nicotine and cannabinoids. Key information is provided about the history, sources, and pharmacokinetics and psychopathology of addiction of each drug class, as well as the behavioral and neurobiological mechanism of action for each drug class at the molecular, cellular and neurocircuitry level of analysis. A chapter on neuroimaging and drug addiction provides a synthesis of exciting new data from neuroimaging in human addicts — a unique perspective unavailable from animal studies. The final chapters explore theories of addiction at the neurobiological and neuroadaptational level both from a historical and integrative perspective.
The book incorporates diverse finding with an emphasis on integration and synthesis rather than discrepancies or differences in the literature.
· Presents a unique perspective on addiction that emphasizes molecular, cellular and neurocircuitry changes in the transition to addiction
· Synthesizes diverse findings on the neurobiology of addiction to provide a heuristic framework for future work
· Features extensive documentation through numerous original figures and tables that that will be useful for understanding and teaching
"Competent, comprehensive, and extensively referenced, the book is clearly appropriate for researchers in the field."
--Peter R. Martin, Vanderbilt University Medical School, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (October 19, 2006)
"In an impressive and weighty new work, Koob and LeMoal assimilate several thousand references to provide a state-of-the-science proclamation of this progress, while setting our sights for its crucial next phases. ...The Neurobiology of Addiction is a thought provoking tour de force. I expect it to become an instant classic and for future editions to gauge our progress in this exciting and compelling field."
--Trevor Robbins, Department of Experimental Psychology at the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge in NATURE NEUROSCIENCE (August 2006; Vol 9:8)
"Neurobiology of Addiction is a major achievement and will rapidly become a must-have book on the shelves of addiction researchers... Although it includes much with which readers will disagree and argue, there is also much to relish in Koob and Le Moal’s thought-provoking and scholarly text."
--Barry Everitt, U Cambridge in SCIENCE (Vol 314: 6 October 2006)
"This text provides us with the state of the art from leading experts at a leading addiction research center. ...It is clearly the very best textbook we could have hoped for..."
--Mark S. Gold and Daniel Logan in PsycCRITIQUES: AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION REVIEW OF BOOKS (November 8, 2006)