Basic Structure of the Brain and Neurology

Abstract

Several brain regions and fiber tracts have been implicated in the pathology which may be caused by substance use. This chapter provides an overview of the structure and function of these regions including (1) areas of cerebral cortex such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cingulate gyrus (CG), (2) major fiber tracts such as the corpus callosum (CC), (3) the basal ganglia (BG), (4) areas of temporal lobe including the hippocampus (HC), and (5) the cerebellum (CB). Pathology affecting these regions attributable to substance use can influence many brain pathways including those involved in the extrapyramidal motor system, in various cognitive systems, and in the control of emotions. Much of the observed pathology appears to affect white matter fiber tracts resulting in increased vacuolation and a decline in oligodendrocytes and axons. The development of these pathological changes is likely to contribute to the many behavioral changes observed as a result of substance use.