Citation | B J Everitt's research has helped to introduce a new way of addressing the neural basis of motivated behaviour by linking learning theory with the methodology of systems neuroscience. He has defined the functional organization of the limbic cortical-striatal circuitry that mediates pavlovian and instrumental learning processes underlying actions motivated by sex or drug reward, or fear. Specifically, he has shown that drug addiction can be understood as the aberrant engagement of learning and memory mechanisms by chronically self-administered drugs leading to compulsive drug seeking, while also showing that these mechanisms can be targeted therapeutically to promote abstinence and prevent relapse. |