Understanding How Do Opioids Excite Neurons Through a Paradoxical Mechanism
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4 min read
Although the immediate cellular effect of opioids is inhibitory, a profound excitatory response in specific brain circuits is responsible for their rewarding effects. This happens through a process called **disinhibition**, where opioids block the activity of a neuron that would normally suppress the target neuron, releasing it from its brake. This paradoxical mechanism is key to understanding the full scope of opioid pharmacology, including both pain relief and addiction.
