Addiction: Explanations of nicotine addiction - Brain neurochemistry Flashcards
Name the neurotransmitter linked to addiction.
Dopamine
Name the brain areas linked to addiction.
Ventral Tegmental area
Nucleus accumbens
Pre- frontal cortex
Which receptors does nicotine attach to?
nACh
Or
nAChR
How long does nicotine take to activate the reward pathway?
Less than 10 seconds
What is nAChR?
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Which receptors of the nucleus accumbens do neurotransmitters attach to?
D2
Which pathway is nucleus accumbens in?
Mesolimbic pathway
What does VTA stand for?
Ventral tegmental area
What does activation of the nucleus accumbens lead to?
Euphoria
Increased alertness
Decreased anxiety
Activation of the nucleus accumbens reduces which emotion?
Anxiety
What three things are increased by activating the nucleus accumbens?
Euphoria
Alertness
Motivation
The nucleus accumbens is the …. Pathway the pre-frontal cortex is in the …. Pathway
Mesolimbic
Mesocortical
Which brain area is linked to decision making?
Pre-frontal cortex
Which brain area is linked to motivation?
Nucleus accumbens
Which brain area has a large concentration of dopamine neurons?
Ventral tegmental area
The ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens are in which system in the brain?
Limbic system