Addiction

Question 1

Biological Explanation:
Role of Dopamine:
Initiation:
What happens in the brain
Adaptive and non-adaptive behaviours.

Answer 1

What happens in the brain:

• Addictive behaviours and substances activate the mesolimbic pathway in the brain (the reward pathway).
• Addiction triggers release of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area.
• Leads to sense of pleasure in the nucleus accumbens.

Adaptive and non-adaptive behaviours:

• Individuals have evolved to feel a sense of pleasure (MP activated), when taking part in an activity, releasing a hit of dopamine.
• This response is deemed as addictive because

Non-adapted behaviours release huge amounts of dopamine, making the individual want to do the behaviour again.

• Leading to a maladaptive reward pathway system.
• Makes them want to engage in addictive behaviour again.

Question 2

Biological Explanation:
Role of Dopamine:
Tolerance:
Research Support

Answer 2

A repeated exposure to the addictive behaviour/substance causes a reduced sensitivity of dopamine in the brain.

• Research shown a decrease in D2 receptors and dopamine release in those with an addiction.
• Suggesting that more behaviour is needed to cause the same pleasurable psychological effect in the mesolimbic system.

Question 3

Biological Explanation:
Role of Dopamine:
Maintenance:
Volkow
The brain circuits responsible for paying attention (incl characteristic)
Addicts views

Answer 3

Volkow:
It causes changes in the frontal cortex that turns what was once engaging behaviour into addiction.

The brain circuits responsible for paying attention (incl characteristic):

Addicts views: