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.

Accepted Answer

The area of the brain in which addiction develops is the mesolimbic pathway, also known as the reward pathway. This pathway is primarily located in the midbrain and includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex.

The major regions in this area of the brain include the VTA, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. The VTA is responsible for producing dopamine, a key neurotransmitter involved in the reward system. The nucleus accumbens is involved in the processing of rewarding stimuli, while the prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making and impulse control.

The key transmitters involved in addiction include dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate. Dopamine is particularly important in the reward pathway, as it is released in response to pleasurable experiences and reinforces the behavior that led to the pleasure. Serotonin is involved in mood regulation and can influence the development of addiction. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays a role in learning and memory, which are important in the development of addiction.

There are seven sites of action for various substances in the brain, including the VTA, nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and brainstem. Different substances can affect these areas in different ways, leading to the development of addiction. For example, drugs like cocaine and amphetamines directly affect the release and reuptake of dopamine in the VTA and nucleus accumbens, while alcohol and opioids can also affect the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters in these areas.

In conclusion, the mesolimbic pathway in the brain is the area in which addiction develops, and it involves the VTA, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. The key transmitters involved in addiction include dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate, and there are seven sites of action for various substances in the brain. Understanding the neurobiology of addiction can help in developing effective treatments and interventions for individuals struggling with substance abuse.

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?

Accepted Answer

He might have multiple gene mutations that, in combination with memories stored in his amygdala, have helped support a learned addiction. Genetic predispositions and environmental factors, such as memories and experiences, can contribute to the development of 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 .

Accepted Answer

Long-term changes in nerve cells, such as those seen in addiction, are often mediated by changes in gene expression, which are regulated by the activity of transcription factors.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the clinical difference between substance...

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is sensitization? Give an example of...

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Addiction is characterized by impaired control over substance use, leading to an inability to stop despite facing adverse consequences.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

Chronic exposure to drugs can lead to the formation of memories in the amygdala, which is a part of the brain involved in emotional processing. Over time, these memories can result in changes in brain function that manifest as learned responses or cravings, illustrating the biological basis of addiction.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Naltrexone works by blocking the endorphin receptors, which helps in reducing the pleasure associated with alcohol consumption. It also plays a role in controlling dopamine levels in the mesolimbic pathway (MFB) of the limbic system, which is involved in the reward and pleasure aspects of addiction, thereby enhancing abstinence and reducing relapse.

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?

Accepted Answer

Twelve-step programs can help individuals relearn adaptive social behaviors and potentially alter brain chemistry in a positive way, reflecting a biological basis for recovery through improved social support and nutritional counseling.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in the reward and pleasure centers of the brain, which are crucial in the development of addiction.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Nicotine from cigarettes acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which leads to an increase in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, a key component of the brain's reward system. This dopamine release is associated with the pleasurable sensations and reinforcement of smoking behavior.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the amygdala? How does it...

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?

Accepted Answer

Methamphetamine use can lead to addiction quickly, especially if the individual has a genetic predisposition that results in lower levels of naturally produced dopamine in the brain's reward system, making them more susceptible to the drug's effects.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Tolerance is the phenomenon where increased doses of a drug are required over time to achieve the same effect that was initially achieved with smaller doses.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Virtually all addictive drugs act through a final common pathway from the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (ACC) and frontal cortex.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Cocaine increases dopamine levels in the synapse by blocking its reuptake, leading to increased stimulation of dopamine receptors, particularly in areas like the VTA and 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?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A holistic treatment program would include medication...

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at opioid receptors, which allows it to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts without producing the same high, making it effective for maintenance therapy and reducing the likelihood of relapse.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is dopamine? What role does it...

Quiz 3: The Brain Biology of Drug Abuse and Addiction