Deck 3: The Brain Biology of Drug Abuse and Addiction

Question 1

Describe the area of the brain in which addiction develops. What are the major regions in this area of the brain, the key transmitters involved, and the seven sites of action for various substances? You may draw a diagram to aid in but not complete) your explanation.

Answer 1

Not Answer

Question 2

A 12 year old boy, the child of an alcoholic, tries beer. He continues to drink beer more and more heavily throughout his teens. Twelve years later, he is drinking nearly a case of beer every day. He has suffered many addiction-related problems during this time. Besides the probable environmental influence in his childhood, what else might account for his alcohol addiction?

A) Alcohol might decrease the actions of GABA on the dopamine neurons in his VTA, thus increasing dopamine release.
B) He might have a genetic defect that, in combination with memories stored in the limbic system, have helped support a learned addiction.
C) Alcohol might increase the actions of GABA on the dopamine neurons in his VTA, thus increasing dopamine release.
D) He might have multiple gene mutations that, in combination with memories stored in his amygdala, have helped support a learned addiction.

Answer 2

He might have multiple gene mutations that, in combination with memories stored in his amygdala, have helped support a learned addiction.

Question 3

It is hypothesized that long-term changes in an addict's dopaminergic and glutaminergic nerve cells in the limbic system are mediated in part by .

A) glutamate and dopamine, respectively
B) changes in gene expression due to on/off activity of transcriptase factors
C) GABA and dopamine, respectively
D) changes in transcription factors due to on/off activity of gene expression

Answer 3

changes in gene expression due to on/off activity of transcriptase factors

Question 4

What is the clinical difference between substance abuse and substance dependence/addiction? What is the chief psychosocial characteristic of addiction?

Question 5

What is sensitization? Give an example of its genetic role in the development of addiction.

Question 6

is impaired control over substance use, or the inability to stop despite adverse consequences.

A) Addiction
B) Abuse
C) Voluntary control
D) Interdependence

Question 7

How would you explain that emotional learning of an addiction has a biological, not merely moral or sociological, basis?

A) The mesolimbic dopamine system prevents the amygdala from storing memories, resulting in permanent changes in the brain function of addicts.
B) Repeated drug use leads to addiction in some people because the good feelings they get reset the MFB in the amygdala, where memories are stored.
C) Chronic exposure to a drug sets up memories in the amygdala and can, in some people, yield changes in brain function that produce a learned response.
D) Chromic drug use and the good feelings associated with taking it cannot reset dopamine levels in an addict's MFB and therefore produce a learned response.

Question 8

Which drug therapy would be appropriate for an alcoholic, and why?

A) Naltrexone; it enhances abstinence and reduces relapse by blocking endorphin receptors and controlling dopamine in the MFB of the limbic system
B) Naltrexone; it enhances abstinence and reduces relapse by blocking endorphin receptors and controlling dopamine in the amygdala
C) Naltrexone; it enhances abstinence and reduces relapse by blocking endorphin receptors and controlling GABA in the MFB of the limbic system
D) Naltrexone; it enhances abstinence and reduces relapse by blocking dopamine receptors and controlling endorphins in the MFB of the limbic system

Question 9

Leonardo is a member of a twelve-step program. He attributes his recovery to the program's social support and nutritional counseling. Why might these reasons reflect a biological basis for his success so far?

A) There is no biological basis. Twelve-step programs work based on spirituality and personal willpower alone.
B) Twelve-step programs work because brain chemistry is adapted through mental affirmations, due to the type of mind-body connection in addicts.
C) Twelve-step programs facilitate relearning of adaptive social interactions and may alter brain chemistry in an adaptive direction.
D) Twelve-step programs facilitate a new type of learning in the limbic system that cannot be substituted by medication-based changes in brain chemistry.

Question 10

One of the major modulators in the development of addiction is the transmitter .

A) naltrexone
B) deltafosB
C) CREB
D) dopamine

Question 11

Analyze the statement below. Which one best describes what happens in the limbic system when a person smokes cigarettes?

A) Nicotine acts on nicotinic receptors to increase dopamine release in the ACC.
B) Nicotine increases the actions of GABA on dopamine neurons in the ACC.
C) Nicotine acts on nicotinic receptors to increase dopamine release in the VTA.
D) Nicotine increases the actions of GABA on nicotinic receptors in the ACC.

Question 12

What is the amygdala? How does it help contribute to emotional learning in drug addiction?

Question 13

A college student is introduced to methamphetamine, eventually needs more and more to feel good, and soon starts stealing to support her habit. She is expelled from school for stealing from her roommate. Why might she have become addicted so quickly?

A) Methamphetamine converts to morphine in the brain and binds to endorphin receptors that cannot regulate the release of dopamine in her limbic system.
B) She probably has a genetic defect that increases levels of naturally produced dopamine, and the drug decreases stimulation of her dopamine receptors.
C) She probably has an abnormally low amount of naturally produced dopamine in her limbic system due to an addiction- related genetic problem.
D) Increased baseline levels of dopamine in the synapse between her VTA and ACC decreased stimulation of her dopamine receptors upon her first use.

Question 14

refers to a requirement for more drugs to achieve the same effect.

A) Physical withdrawal
B) Tolerance
C) Drug abuse
D) Impaired control

Question 15

Virtually all addictive drugs act through a final common pathway from the to the and front cortex.

A) ACC; VTA
B) VTA; ACC
C) DA; ACC
D) ACC; DA

Question 16

Analyze the statement below. Which one best describes what happens in the limbic system when a person uses cocaine?

A) Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine back into the nerve ending of the frontal cortex.
B) An increase of dopamine in the synapse between the VTA and ACC occurs, as well as an increase in stimulation of the dopamine receptors in the ACC.
C) Cocaine blocks the reuptake of glutamate back into the DAT of the frontal cortex.
D) A decrease of dopamine in the synapse between the VTA and ACC occurs, as well as an decrease in stimulation of the dopamine receptors in the ACC.

Question 17

A holistic treatment program would include medication therapies as well as nondrug therapies. For course and fine adjustments in an addict's functioning, which treatments would you use?

A) For heroin addiction: methadone for course adjustment and nutritional counseling for fine adjustment
B) For heroin addiction: nutritional counseling for course adjustment; methadone for fine adjustment
C) For nicotine addiction: exercise training for course adjustment; bupropion for fine adjustment
D) For nicotine addiction: varenicline for course adjustment; bupropion for fine adjustment

Question 18

Which treatment would you use for a heroin addict, and why?

A) Bromocriptine; it is a partial agonist that can mimic heroin enough to prevent withdrawal while acting like an antagonist to prevent relapse and craving
B) Bromocriptine; it is an antagonist that can mimic heroin enough to prevent withdrawal while acting like an agonist to prevent relapse and craving
C) Buprenorphine; it is a partial agonist that can mimic heroin enough to prevent withdrawal while acting like an antagonist to prevent relapse and craving
D) Buprenorphine; it is an antagonist that can mimic heroin enough to prevent withdrawal while acting like an agonist to prevent relapse and craving

Question 19

What is dopamine? What role does it play in rapid rebound?