neurobio of ADDICTION

Question 1

WHat is the moral model of addiction?

Answer 1

• purely by choice
• assumes something is MORALLY wrong in those who take drugs; therefore should be PUNISHED and not put into rehab
• —-philipines president vows to kill 3 million drug addicts

Question 2

Medical Model of Addiction (3)?

Answer 2

• ADDICTION is a brain disease that has genetic and neurochemical components
• more compassionate care
• helps explain the genetic component of addiction

Question 3

What is the criteria of Dependence? (6)

Answer 3

• strong desire for substance
• can’t control substance use
• psychological WITHDRAWAL state (no need to be dependent)
• tolerance
• -ve alternative pleasure (neglect family, hobbies, lose friends)
• persistence despite evidence of harm

Question 4

What are the characteristics of Gaming Disorder (ICD-11)?

Answer 4

• impaired control

- increasing PRIORITY given to gaming over other activities

Question 5

What is incentive salience?

Answer 5

• attributing “want” to something

Question 6

What does the reward pathway involve?

Answer 6

• ventral tegmental area> nucleus accumbens> prefrontal cortex
• DOPAMINE is released in this pathway
• the more dopamine release; the more we LONG for that thing

Question 7

What is the affect of opiates?

Answer 7

• dopamine release by dopaminergic neurones

- ALCOHOL is also a stimulus

Question 8

Which site of the brain is excessively stimulated by amphetamine?

Answer 8

-nucleus accumbens

huge dopamine release

Question 9

Explain how tolerance to reward occur. (4)

Answer 9

• overstimulation of the pathway> downregulation of the receptors (less receptors receiving dopamine)
• TOLERANCE develops with consistent reward ; same stimulus is not pro
  normal experiences don’t evoke adequate reward response > life gets grey
  —-persists despite abstinence

Question 10

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 10

• initial stages of taking the drug is driven by reward

Question 11

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 11

• taking drugs to FEEL normal

- so life doesn’t seem as boring

Question 12

What does the prefrontal cortex responsible for?

Answer 12

• sets goals
  makes sound decisions
• keep emotions and impulses under control
• modulates the powerful effect of reward

Question 13

How long does it take for the prefrontal cortex to develop?

Answer 13

• early 20 s

not making sensible decisions, seek excitement

Question 14

How diff. is the brain activity in substance abusers?

Answer 14

• reduced glucose metabolism in the prefrontal cortex in substance abusers
• hardwiring of the reward pathway ; disrupts the functions of prefrontal cortex

Question 15

What sites in the brain are responsible for memory and habits?

Answer 15

• hippocampus
• striatum
• amygdala

-learned drug associations cues craving (sight of cig. box and syringe)

Question 16

What does the orbito-frontal cortex resp. for?

Answer 16

• creator of MOTIVATION to act

- those addicted; the OFC is highly active

Question 17

What is primarily resp. for the promoting addiciton?

Answer 17

• the nucleus ACCUMBENS stimulating the amyg, the VTA

Question 18

How may genetics predispose one to drug addiction?

Answer 18

• way to respond to drugs
• low expression of dopamine receptors; more likely to be addicited
• behavioural traits predispose us to take drugs

Question 19

How does acute stress differ in its neurological action, from chronic stress?

Answer 19

• acute stress> dopamine release (so you are motivated to do something about it)
• repeated stress> down reg of receptors ; reducing sensitivity TO NORMAL rewards