Explanations for nicotine addictions

Question 1

what are the 2 explanations to nicotine addictions

Answer 1

• brain neurochemsitry
• learning theory

Question 2

what is the nicotine paradox

Answer 2

the fact that nicotine has both stimulant and relaxation effects

Question 3

what is the relaxation from the nicotine paradox due to

Answer 3

smokers alleviating a state of mild nicotine withdrawal - allowing nicotine level to return to normal

Question 4

what kind of general effects does nicotine have

Answer 4

tranquilisation, decreased irritability, increased alertness, better cognitive function

Question 5

what is the brain reward pathway

Answer 5

heightened dopaminergic activity as a result of nicotine intake

Question 6

what is dopamine and what effect does it have

Answer 6

neurotransmitter - feelings of pleasure

Question 7

how long does nicotine take to reach peak levles in the bloodstream

Answer 7

10 second

Question 8

why does nicotine become addictve

Answer 8

it activates areas of the brain that regulate feelings of pleasure

Question 9

where does nicotine attach to neurons in the brain

Answer 9

ventral tegmental area (VTA)

Question 10

where does dopamine get released from in the brian

Answer 10

nucleus accumbens (NAc)

Question 11

what triggers the release of dopamine in the NAc

Answer 11

nicotine attaching to the neurons in the VTA

Question 12

apart from dopamine, what other neurotransmitters are released when nicotine is taken in

Answer 12

• GABA
• glutamate

Question 13

what is glutamate and what effect does it have

Answer 13

neurotransmitter, speeds up the activity of neurons (dopamine release) in the NAc

Question 14

what is GABA and what effect does it have

Answer 14

neurotransmitter, its meant to inhibit dopamine by slowing down neural activity

Question 15

what effect does nicotine have on glutamate

Answer 15

increases it

Question 16

what effect does nicotine have on GABA

Answer 16

lowers it

Question 17

what effect does the combination of the inhibition of GABA and increase in glutamate have

Answer 17

amplification of the rewarding properties of nicotine

Question 18

what is monoamineoxidase (MAO) and what effect does it have

Answer 18

an enzyme, responsible for breaking down dopamine

Question 19

how long does the effect of dopamine last

Answer 19

a few minutes

Question 20

what inhibits MAO

Answer 20

something in the cig smoke

Question 21

what effect does the inhibition of MAO have

Answer 21

higher dopamine levels, strengthening the addiction by maintaining the feelings of pleasure

Question 22

summarise the brain neurochemistry explanation for nicotine addiction in 8 steps

Answer 22

1 - nicotine paradox exists
2 - brain reward pathway
3 - peak levels of nicotine
4 - VTA nicotine to neurons
5 - NAc dopamine release
6 - increase glutamate
7 - decrease GABA
8 - decrease MAO

Question 23

how does learning theory explain nicotine addiction

Answer 23

characterises it into 3 steps

Question 24

what are the three steps to nicotine addiction in learning theory

Answer 24

1 - initiation
2 - maintenance
3 - relapse

Question 25

when does learning theory suggest nicotine addiction starts

Answer 25

when people first experiment with smoking

Question 26

what does learning theory suggest makes young people expect positive impacts from smoking

Answer 26

observing role models (parents/siblings/friends) and the vicarious reinforcement they experience

Question 27

what does operant conditioning say about rewarded behaviours

Answer 27

they will increase in frequency

Question 28

why do individuals who smoke get reigforced by the behaviour of smoking

Answer 28

nicotine peaks in the bloodstream in less than 10 seconds

Question 29

what is the intiation part of learning theory

Answer 29

addiction begins when first try smoking - rewarding experience so try again

Question 30

what is the maintenance part of learning theory

Answer 30

smoking continues due to operate conditioning and the positive reinforcement

Question 31

why do people experience positive reinforcement from smoking

Answer 31

it provides them with relief after mild withdrawal symptoms

Question 32

why do most people maintain their smoking habit

Answer 32

to avoid negative symptoms from the mild withdrawal

Question 33

what symptoms might people get from the mild withdrawal from smoking

Answer 33

anxiety, irritability, low modd

Question 34

why do people crave another cigarette

Answer 34

for the relief of mild withdrawal symptoms

Question 35

what is the cue reactivity in learning theory

Answer 35

smokers associating situations with the rewarding effects of nicotine which triggers a craving

Question 36

how are associations made between smoking behav and situations

Answer 36

classical conditioning

Question 37

give examples of situations that get associated with smoking behav

Answer 37

- meeting with friends - being at a pub

Question 38

if dopamine levels drop, what effect does the presence of cues have

Answer 38

means the individual feels more need to smoke