Addiction- Biological

Question 1

Describe how the mesolimbic pathway plays a role in addiction:

Answer 1

Addictive substances trigger the release of dopamine in the ventral tegmental area of the brain, leading to a sense of pleasure in the nucleus, leading to the maladaptive reliance on the substance for pleasure.

Question 2

What research supports supports the theory of the mesolimbic pathway?

Answer 2

-Dopamine levels + during gambling task, whether or not they won. (Joutsa 2012)
-alcohol increased dopamine levels (Boileau 2003)

Question 3

What is the ventral tegmental area?

Answer 3

area of brain where dopamine is released and and pleasure is experienced with engagement in addictive behaviour.
It forms part of the mesolimbic pathway.

Question 4

What does the nucleus accumbens do?

Answer 4

Forms part of the mesolimbic pathway

Question 5

What is the frontal cortex?

Answer 5

Area of brain linked to higher cognitive functions so repeated drug use may affect this