ADDICTION: Bio - Dopamine A03

Question 1

Dopamine :)

Answer 1

Use of non-human studies:
Allows researchers to study the effects of drugs in ways that are not ethically possible with humans
- E.g. making rats self-stimulate with drugs

:( - Studies may not give a true insight into how humans become addicted
- Misses social context in which many addictions take place
- cannot be replicable to some behavioural addictions (gambling / computer games)
- Cannot be generalised to humans

Question 2

Dopamine :(

Answer 2

Not all addictive behaviours increase dopamine - Strokes et al. & Yoder et al.

The complexity of the role of dopamine - Bell & Liberzon et al.

Methodological Issues - Nutt et al.

Question 3

Dopamine :( Stokes et al.

Answer 3

Significant increase in dopamine levels in volunteers taking cannabis

• Conflicting evidence suggests it may not be appropriate to suggest all addictive behaviours / substances increase dopamine levels

Question 4

Dopamine :( Yoder et al.

Answer 4

No consistent increase in dopamine across ppts. given alcohol

• Conflicting evidence suggests it may not be appropriate to suggest all addictive behaviours / substances increase dopamine levels

Question 5

Dopamine :( Complexity of dopamine

Answer 5

Using dopamine to solely explain addiction ignores the range of other functions dopamine serves

Question 6

Dopamine :( Bell

Answer 6

refers to dopamine as the ‘Kim Kardashian of neurotransmitters’, suggesting it has become fashionable to blame dopamine for a range of problems
- Studies suggest dopamine levels increase in the presence of aversive stimuli
- Brain not only motivates us to seek something pleasant but also helps us avoid unpleasant things

Question 7

Dopamine :( Liberzon et al.

Answer 7

showed increase activation in NAc in war veterans suffering PTSD when reminded of battle through combat sounds

• Does not match the idea of this area being simply about pleasure

Question 8

Dopamine :( Nutt et al.

Answer 8

Criticised methodology used in research in this area: Measured effects may not be accurate

• Samples in the studies are often small
• When ppts. are given a substance to measure its effects, they are often given it in a different form
  
  • Nicotine from inhalers > cigarettes
• Substances are often for laboratory use rather than the usual environment
  
  • Inhaler in lab > smoking with a group of friends