Cortical activation of accumbens hyperpolarization-active NMDARs mediates aversion-resistant alcohol intake

The authors show that optogenetic inhibition of inputs from medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) or insula to the nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) inhibits aversion-resistant alcohol intake. Alcohol-drinking rats showed increased hyperpolarization-active NMDARs at mPFC and insula inputs to NAcore medium spiny neurons. Knocking down these receptors in the NAcore inhibited aversion-resistant alcohol intake.