Addiction - Biological Explanation - Role of Dopamine Flashcards
What area of the brain in associated with addiction?
The reward pathway (mesolimbic pathway)
How does the rewards pathway work?
When we engage in a rewarding activity, the VTA produces dopamine to the Nac which receives the dopamine and releases a jolt of pleasure.
How does Jousta’s et al (2012) research support the role of dopamine?
Dopamine levels were increased in participants who were given a gambling task, regardless of the outcome.
The brain strives to meet equilibrium. What is equilibrium?
Balance in the brain.
How do withdrawal symptoms work?
If a drug is consumed regularly, it alters the functions of the brain and the brain adapts to the effects of the drug and reaches balance again, however when the drug is removed withdrawal symptoms are present.
How does tolerance work?
When a drug is taken repeatedly, the effects of the drug is reduced and a higher dosage will be needed to get the same effects. As more dopamine is released the brain aims to reach equilibrium by reducing the amount of D2 receptors available so less dopamine can be absorbed and less of a high is felt.
What is the frontal cortex responsible for?
Impulse control
Motivation
Attention
Social behaviour
Describe how the frontal cortex leads to a maintenance of addictions.
Research suggests that although the mesolimbic pathway is the starting point for addiction, after prolonged excess dopamine release and absorption, the frontal cortex begins to be affected. Functions such as motivation, social behaviour and impulse control are affected which makes relapse much more probable.
What is a strength of the role of the dopamine in relation to supporting evidence?
Stokes et al (2009) found an increased amount of dopamine activity in participants who were consistently taking cannabis, compared to controls, however contradicting evidence by Yoder et al (2007) found no significant increase in dopamine in participants taking alcohol compared to those who were not.
What is a weakness of the role of the dopamine in relation to use of animal studies?
The use of animal studies on mice and rats is common amongst dopamine studies, however this is both unethical and ungeneralisable as humans are more complex being which cannot be represented by mice, however they do help to conduct research that is not possible amongst humans.
What is a weakness of the role of the dopamine in relation to reductionism?
The role of dopamine explanation ignores environmental factors or possibilities that may contribute to the formation of addictions such as trauma and relationships therefore is considered reductionist and too simplistic
