Biological Explanations for Smoking - Addiction

Question 1

How can neurotransmitters explain initiation of smoking?

Answer 1

• Dopamine give you a sense of pleasure
• A memory forms which is linked to what you were doing at the time dopamine was released (linked to motor actions)
• Regal pathway is responsible for making sure you repeat the behaviour by connecting regions of the brain that control memory and behaviour

Question 2

How can Miyata’s study help to explain initiation?

Answer 2

Nicotine inclusion in rats to see relationship between dopamine and serotonin in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA)
- Dopamine increased in LHA - shows how memory can be formed which is linked to dopamine to cause initiation

Question 3

How can neurotransmitters explain maintenance?

Answer 3

• When you smoke the brain creates nicotine receptors which continue to grow and always need nicotine
• Person continues to smoke to relate the feeling of stress caused by the desire for nicotine
• Brain area which normally inhibits risky behaviour is impaired, causing smokers to choose the immediate reward of nicotine without thinking of the consequences

Question 4

How does Miyata’s study help to explain maintenance?

Answer 4

Stopping the nicotine caused dopamine to decrease = makes person feel low and stressed so continues to smoke to maintain high

Question 5

How do neurotransmitters explain relapse?

Answer 5

• A specific motor action that is linked to dopamine such as rolling a cigarette can cause you to replace back into the behaviour
• Addicts are highly sensitive to reminders of past highs
• Smokers are at high risk of relapse when stressed

Question 6

How does Miyata’s study help to explain relapse?

Answer 6

If smoking increases dopamine a memory/motor action linked to it may release dopamine causing the individual to smoke to gain higher levels of dopamine