Advances of mechanism of habenula in reward and its role in mental illness / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

The habenula complex,an ancient and conservative nucleus during biological evolution, is involved in many i mportant biological functions,such as maternal behavior,pain,sleep,learning and reward.As an important node in the dopamine reward network,its functions(including the maintenance of individual survival while avoiding disadvantages)and mechanis m in the reward process have attracted wide attention.The dysfunction of habenula is closely related to many psychotic disorders,such as de-pression,schizophrenia and drug habituation.Habenula may also become a potential target for clinical treatment of these mental illnesses.So clarifying the role and neurobiological mechanisms of habenula in the central nervous system is of great theoretical and clinical value.