ABSTRACT
One of the major quests in brain research has been to identify the neurological areas involved in euphoria and pleasure. This endeavour has met with some success and has resulted in the identification of some areas of the brain involved in drug addiction. Important areas stand out as reward centres: in particular the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), which links the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain with the nucleus accumbens (NA). Corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) is probably best known as the hormone from the hypothalamus that enters the pituitary gland and controls the release of one of the anterior pituitary hormones called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Cannabis causes an increase in appetite, so users may eat more food. Special brain cells called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons can release either a hormone that suppresses appetite, or a different hormone that stimulates appetite. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause problems with the infant called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
