ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (6): 999-1006.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2013.00999

• Special Section of Physiological Psychology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Neurodevelopmental Mechanisms of Prenatal Cocaine or Morphine Exposure on Addiction-related Behaviors in Offsprings

WANG Yuanyuan;WANG Dongmei;SUI Nan   

  1. (1 Institute of Psychology. Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China) (2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)
  • Received:2013-02-21 Online:2013-06-15 Published:2013-06-15
  • Contact: SUI Nan

Abstract: Prenatal exposure to addictive drugs can influence the development of fetal brain, leading to abnormality of the main neurotransmitter system and behavioral malfunction. Recent studies showed that prenatal exposure to cocaine or morphine affects the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of neural progenitor, resulting in changes of neuronal morphology, receptor function and synaptic plasticity. Such changes are widely found in dopamine, GABA and glutamate system in mesocorticolimbic system, which leads to behavioral deficits in learning and memory and altered susceptibility to addictive drugs. Here we summarize related studies on behaviors, neural development, neurotransmitter system and brain function and try to put forward further research prospects.

Key words: embryonic period, cocaine, morphine, brain development, addiction behavior