Cannabinoid CB1 receptor in dopaminergic circuit from ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens links trait anxiety with reward learning

Abstract The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has risen as a critical modulator linking the environmental challenges to behavioral maladaptation, such as trait anxiety and reward learning impairment. However, the association between trait anxiety and reward learning and how they share molecular mechanism in eCB system is still unknown. Here, we utilized a series of behavioral tests to screen the correlation among the behavioral patterns, especially between trait anxiety and reward learning. The elevated platform stress and open field test (OFT) were