Neuroscience L57 Addiction And The Brain

Front 1

What are the 6 levels of drug use?

Back 1

Abstinence
Experimentation
Social/recreational use
Habituation (drug seeking)
Abuse (consequences)
Addiction (use despite harm)

Front 2

What drug class can have fatal withdrawl effect?

Back 2

barbituates, heavy GABA agonists

Front 3

What are the risk factors for substance abuse (other than being a doctor)

Back 3

family history
high stress/abuse as a child
drug of choice
age of first use (earlier is worse)
Genetics (genetic addiction)

Front 4

What does the ventral tegmental area do in addiction?

Back 4

this has dopamine neurons that project to many areas, including the nucleus accumbens

Front 5

What does the nucleus accumbens have to do with addiction?

Back 5

this gives off a dopamine release associated with experiencing pleasure.

reinforces 'survival behaviors'

Front 6

what part of the brain is associated with drug craving?

Back 6

nucleus accumbens

Front 7

What is the pathway between the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area?

Back 7

the medial forbrain bundle

Front 8

what brain center leads to self administration of drugs?

Back 8

the nucleus accumbens

Front 9

In general, what does dopamine do?

Back 9

this does "reinforcement, salience (importance)"

Front 10

in general what does NE do?

Back 10

attention and arousal

Front 11

What are the 2 normal mechanisms of the nucleus accumbens that curtail the stimulus of dopamine

Back 11

Re-absorption of the neurotransmitter

and MonoAmine Oxidase

Front 12

What things normally bind to the Dopamine transporter in the nucleus accumbens?

Back 12

Dopamine + cl + 2na

Front 13

what does cocaine bind to?

Back 13

this sits in the 2 Na+ spots on the dopamine transporter of the nucleus accumbens

prevents dopamine reuptake

Front 14

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of cocaine?

Back 14

blocks dopamine reuptake in the nucleus accumbens

Front 15

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of amphetamines?

Back 15

increase dopamine release in NAc

Front 16

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of nicotine?

Back 16

MAO inhibition, AND increased DA release in NAc

Front 17

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of alcohol?

Back 17

increased DA synthesis in VTA and release in NAc

Front 18

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of opiates?

Back 18

increased DA synthesis in VTA and release in NAc

Front 19

What is the primary mechanism of Dopamine reinforcement of THC?

Back 19

increased DA synthesis in VTA and release in NAc

Front 20

what underlies genetic predispotion to addiction?

Back 20

abnormalities in the DA transporter in NAc

Front 21

What does continued use of drugs do to the brain?

Back 21

impairs prefrontal cortex,

loss of behavioral control, no regard for consequences of actions

Front 22

How does the prefrontal cortex affect addiction?

Back 22

this can turn off the nucleus accumbens (sometimes) and the VTA

Front 23

what do prefrontal cortex lesions do to behavior?

Back 23

these result in irresponsible behavior

Front 24

what is a dysfunctional ventromedial ortbitofrontal cortex associated with?

Back 24

overvaluing drugs rewards over risk.

undervaluing risk behaviors

Front 25

what is a dysfunctional dorsolateral prefrontal cortex associated with?

Back 25

this is the go or no go system- overactive during addiction cravings

used for immediate gratification

Front 26

How does the amygdala affect addiction?

Back 26

this encodes the context for drug use (like i always used to smoke crack in this basement..)

if a reward is expect and none occurs- can have negative emotions

Front 27

How does the hippocampus affect addiction?

Back 27

this stores memories associated with reinforcement, has a euphoric recall

can have "user dreams"-

Front 28

how does the insula affect addiction?

Back 28

organizes the experience of craving activated by drug use.

Front 29

What do lesions of the insula result in?

Back 29

ease of quitting drugs

Front 30

What two parts of the brain are implicated in relapsing?

Back 30

the amgydala and the prefrontal cortex exciting the VTA.

can happen either due to stress (prefrontal cortex)

or drug associated stimulus (amygdala)

both give off glutamine (exciting)