Ventral pallidum cellular and pathway specificity in drug seeking.

• The ventral pallidum (VP) is a critical regulator of relapse to a variety of drugs. • Recent advancements reveal VP cellular heterogeneity forms segregated circuitry that contribute to functional role of VP in addiction. • Specific neurotransmitters and peptides contribute to functional role of VP in addiction. • VP contributes to relapse of drug seeking both dependent and independent of the common final pathway in relapse to drug seeking. • Manipulation of specific VP domains, cellular types, pathways and peptides can reduce relapse to drug seeking. The ventral pallidum (VP) is central to the reinforcing effects across a variety of drugs and relapse to drug seeking. Emerging studies from animal models of reinstatement reveal a complex neurobiology of the VP that contributes to different aspects of relapse to drug seeking. This review builds on classical understanding of the VP as part of the final common pathway of relapse but also discusses the properties of the VP as an independent structure. These include VP neural anatomical subregions, cellular heterogeneity, circuitry, neurotransmitters and peptides. Collectively, this review provides a current understanding of the VP from molecular to circuit level architecture that contributes to both the appetitive and aversive symptoms of drug addiction. We show the complex neurobiology of the VP in drug seeking, emphasizing its critical role in addiction, and review strategic approaches that target the VP to reduce relapse rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]