- Proposes that repeated use of illicit drugs induces neuroadaptations 
- Neuroadaptations lead to hyperreactivity in response to drug cues and incentives
- Ultimately leads to a disproportionate motivation to pursue the drug and a reduced sensitivity to normal, non-drug-related rewards

Rutgers University

- Theories include opponent, inhibitory control, reward deficiency, incentive sensitization, aberrant learning, and anti-reward theory 

Neuroadaptive Theories in Addiction/Craving

Kakko J, Alho H, Baldacchino A, Molina R, Nava FA and Shaya G
 2019) Craving in Opioid Use Disorder: From Neurobiology to Clinical Practice.Front. Psychiatry 10:592. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00592

Craving in Opioid Use Disorder: From Neurobiology to Clinical Practice

Proposes that euphoria induced by a drug is opposed by a counteracting process that will eventually overtake initial euphoric effects 

Opponent Theory 

Incentive Sensitization Theory

This theory states that the neural basis for addiction is blunted reward circuitry. To compensate for low activation of reward circuitry, individuals seek pleasurable experiences or substances, such as drugs. 

Reward Deficiency Theory

- Neural basis for drug addiction is reduced inhibitory control. 
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPC) in the frontal cortex of the brain primarily serves as inhibitory control for other brain regions. 
- People with substance use disorders seem to have decreased activity of these regions


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