Anatomy of reward pathway

Question 1

what do cortical neurons do

Answer 1

direct goal directed behavior

Question 2

what is the vSUB for

Answer 2

spatial and contextual control
provides amplification factor by determining proportion of DA neurons that are spontaneously active
involved in regulation of stress

Question 3

What is Prefrontal cortex for

Answer 3

executive control
response inhibition
task switching

Question 4

what is the BLA for

Answer 4

conditioned associations and affective drive

Question 5

what is the thalamus for

Answer 5

sensory input

Question 6

what is phasic firing

Answer 6

behaviorally relevant stimuli cause short term activation of dopamine cell firing

Question 7

what is tonic firing

Answer 7

regulates the intensity of phasic dopamine response through its effects on extracellular dopamine levels

Question 8

what does burst firing depend on

Answer 8

glutamate activation of NMDA receptors
DA neurons in spontaneously firing state

Question 9

what is population activity

Answer 9

refers to the proportion of DA neurons that are spontaneously active

Question 10

What is the limbic pathway

Answer 10

vSub excites NAc which inhibits VP to disinhibit DA neurons in the VTA

Question 11

what is the shell of the NAc

Answer 11

highly involved with drug reward

Question 12

what is the core of the NAc

Answer 12

contributes to motivated behaviors such as cue conditioning and drug seeking

Question 13

what are the effects of DA neurons on NAc

Answer 13

inhibits NAc neurons via D2 receptors (decreases cAMP production)
increases glutamatergic drive onto NAc neurons via D1 receptors
Increases neuronal synchrony via gap junctions
(DA alters permability of connexins)

Question 14

what are the excitatory inputs onto the NAc

Answer 14

vSub
BLA
PFC

Question 15

what are the inputs to the vSub

Answer 15

dorsal hippocampus
PFC
BLA

Question 16

what are the up states of NAc neurons

Answer 16

rapid large amplitude spontaneous shifts in Vm
important for context specific processes

Question 17

what is vSub input to the NAc modulated by

Answer 17

dopamine increases vSub drive of NAc neurons

Question 18

what does a disconnection of vSub and NAc result in

Answer 18

disrupts the acquisition of learned behaviors

Question 19

what is the neuroadaptions at the binge intoxication stage

Question 20

what happens during the withdrawal/ negative affect stage

Answer 20

involves extended amgydala which is associated with negative reinforcement of dependence

Question 21

what are within system neuroadaptions

Answer 21

brain systems important for acute reinforcing effects of DOA become compromised and begin to contribute to a negative reinforcement mechanism

Question 22

what are the changes associated with within system neuroadaptions

Answer 22

decreased LTP in NAc
increased trafficking of AMPA recep
Increased CREB phosphorylation and activation of cAMP
downreg. of DA D2 receptors
decreased firing of VTA DA neurons

Question 23

what are between system neuroadaptions

Answer 23

occur in the extended amygdala including neurotransmitters associated with brain stress systems involved in negative reinforcement of dependence

Question 24

what happens during preoccupation/anticipation stage

Answer 24

involves prefrontal cortex
impairment of executive function and drives impulsivity

Question 25

GO system

Answer 25

engages habit systems
anterior cingulate cortex
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Question 26

what is the anterior cingulate cortex

Answer 26

selection of responses; planning and self monitoring of goal direct behaviors

Question 27

what is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

Answer 27

working memory, planning, strategy

Question 28

what is the stop system

Answer 28

inhibits go system
ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
orbitofrontal cortex

Question 29

what is the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

Answer 29

response inhibition, sustained attention, rule generation