Lecture 3 DA & Reward Flashcards
(32 cards)
How is dopamine synthesized in the brain?
From Tyrosine 酪氨酸
（amino acids in food or from drugs containing L-DOPA）.
What conditions is dopamine especially important in?
Parkinson’s disease and addiction.
What does dopamine code in terms of reward?
Reward relative to expectations.
What additional roles may dopamine play beyond reward?
Motivation and mental effort.
How do addictive drugs affect dopamine and behavior?
They release dopamine coded as ‘better than expected’ and reduce top-down control from the prefrontal cortex.
What are the two main dopamine pathways?
- Substantia nigra → basal ganglia (motor control)
- VTA → nucleus accumbens + PFC (reward, motivation, emotion)
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
Death of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra.
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s?
Motor tremors, cognitive impairments, dementia, and reduced executive function.
What treatments exist for Parkinson’s?
Drugs and deep brain stimulation (no cure).
What are potential side effects of Parkinson’s treatment?
Impulsivity, hypersexuality, gambling, and addictive-like behaviors.
What happens to dopamine neurons with an unexpected reward?
They fire and release a burst of dopamine.
What happens when a reward becomes expected?
Dopamine is released at the predictive cue (e.g., beep), not at the reward.
What happens if an expected reward is not delivered?
Dopamine neuron activity is suppressed.
Why do we find money rewarding even though it’s just paper?
We associate it with real or symbolic valuable outcomes.
What kinds of rewards can activate dopamine signaling?
Real (food, sex), symbolic (money), and virtual (game points).
What does the VMAC task measure?
How prone someone is to learn reward-related cues even if it impairs goal pursuit.
What is the link between dopamine and cognitive effort?
Dopamine may code both goal rewards and the effort costs, influencing task persistence and perceived opportunity cost.
When are cognitive tasks particularly aversive?
When there’s low likelihood of success or delayed gratification is undervalued.
What is EFT and how can it help?
o Poor ability to EFT (Episodic Future Thinking) is linked to difficulties appreciating AND applying knowledge of benefits of delaying gratification
o EFT can be improve through imagining / imagery training
Why is gambling addictive despite net losses?
Unpredictable, occasional big wins create ‘better than expected’ dopamine bursts.
Drug addiction.
A chronic, relapsing disorder of compulsive drug seeking/taking despite harm.
* takes place at the expense of other activities
* persists despite adverse consequences
How does cocaine affect dopamine neurotransmission?
It blocks dopamine** reuptake**(step 6), continue stimulating of post-synaptic neurons.
How does amphetamine affect dopamine neurotransmission?
Amphetamine REVERSE step 6, stop dopamine from reuptake, make it continue stimulating the post synaps neuron
What are the drug forms of amphetamines?
Ice (pure) and speed (less pure).
