The role of the habenula in addiction Although its name suggests a spicy kind of pepper, the habenula is actually a small brain organelle located near the third ventricle and behind the thalamus. The habenula receives messages from the basal ganglia and limbic system through the stria medullaris, a fiber bundle that relays impulses meant to control levels of dopamine in the striatum. In addition, the left portion of the habenula regulates serotonin levels and the release of norepinephrine while the middle portion of the habenula modulates another important transmitter called acetylcholine. With its heavy involvement in regulating the levels and release of neurotransmitters that play powerful roles in the brain's reward/pleasure pathways, the habenula has recently become a focus for scientists investigating the neurochemistry of substance addiction and how drug detox programs and alcohol rehab treatment methods can be improved to enhance the success rates of addiction recovery.
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