Addiction

Question 1

What are some neurochemic reaction after psychostimulant use?

Answer 1

• DA overflow in the NAc, increases cAMP, which upregulates CREB, which binds to certain genes that promote DA inhibiting proteins like dynorphin, this inhibits VTA DA release which is responsible for building of tolerance.
• Abstinence will increase delta-fosB, which is a stable protein that increases sensitization. Responsible for craving.
• Chronic use will increase glutamate firing in the pathways where the reward system and the amygdala, hippocampus, and cortex are connected. This induces stronger connection, which leads to drug-learned behaviours. Responsible for relapse.