Emergent pharmacology of conscious experience: new perspectives in substance addiction

We here review experimental findings relevant for the pharmacology of conscious experience, an issue largely neglected in pharmacological research. First, we focus on self‐awareness, a pivotal component of conscious experience and its integration within the global neuronal network (GNW), a theoretical concept that unifies convergent approaches on the neural bases of conscious processing. We report recent evidence to show that self‐awareness mobilizes a paralimbic circuitry of γ synchrony, and that such synchrony is, in particular, regulated by GABA interneurons under the control of acetylcholine and dopamine. Recent data illustrate that these neurotransmitters establish a causal relationship with the control of self‐awareness. The hypothesis is presented that not only is self‐awareness chemically regulated, but the reverse may be true. Long‐term deficit in self‐control of drug intake would result in compulsive substance use, accompanied, in particular, with lesions of the paralimbic circuitry of self‐awareness, leading to aggravation of substance abuse, resulting in addiction in a vicious circle. Finally, we propose that the emergent pharmacology of conscious experience may provide new perspectives, not only in substance addiction but also in the many other pathological conditions with deficient self‐awareness.—Changeux, J. ‐P., Lou, H. C. Emergent pharmacology of conscious experience: new perspectives in substance addiction. FASEB J. 25, 2098‐2108 (2011). www.fasebj.org