Understanding the Functional Plasticity in Neural Networks of the Basal Ganglia in Cocaine Use Disorder: A Role for Allosteric Receptor-Receptor Interactions in A2A-D2 Heteroreceptor Complexes

Figure 1

Illustration of possible reorganization of the homo- and heteroreceptor complexes within the synaptic and extrasynaptic regions of the glutamate synapses of the striatopallidal GABA neurons in the learning process. The receptor monomers are not illustrated. The left panel represents the basal state and the right panel the state that has developed in the learning process. They can become stabilized into a long lasting receptor assemblies through the formation of novel adaptor and scaffolding proteins. If so, they will represent short-term memory that can be converted into long-term memory through further consolidation.