Dopamine and reward

Question 1

Where are cell bodies of dopamines stored at

Answer 1

Substantia Nigra (motor control)
Ventral tegmental area (emotional and motivation, desire, addiction and reward)

Question 2

List the synthesis of natural and medication dopamine

Answer 2

Tyrosine (can be consumed from food)
> Tyrosine hydroxylase
Dopa
> Amino acid decarboxylase
Dopamine
> Dopamine beta-hydroxylase
Noradrenaline

Medicine
> Amino acid decarboxylase
Dopamine
> Dopamine beta-hydroxylase
Noradrenaline

Question 3

cause and features of parkinson

Answer 3

Due to the dopamine cell death in the substantia nigra
tremor, later symptoms include dementia and cognitive impairments
no cure, but medication to alleviate the symptoms
side effects include impulsivity, hypersexuality and addiction to gambling

Question 4

Reward prediction error

Answer 4

1. dopamine neurones fire when there is reward
2. if reward is consistent after the beep = the neurones fire during the beep instead of the reward itself
3. if reward is removed after the beep, still neurones fire during the beep but silent during the window time period

make sense as humans get excited when picking up money as we associate money with the things we want but not the note itself

Question 5

types of reward

Answer 5

real: food and sex
symbolic: notes
virtual: fucking fifa mbappe card

Question 6

explain cognitive control and reward

Answer 6

unclear why cognitive tasks and attention are so “effortful” whilst the brain activities are similar with enjoyable events

proposed that dopamine may not only code for reward, but also for calculating the difference between reward and opportunity cause (rewards and experiences that a person has lost during the time)
The aversive feeling during a cognitive task may be an evident of opportunity cost

Task persistency seems to be connected with the reward and the progress of the task. Task persistency is only justifiable when the current progress/reward of the task is larger than the opportunity costs

If the opportunity cost is higher, dopamine might signal the person to give up and switch task or go for the guessing option

Question 7

Why is gambling addictive and the definition of addiction

Answer 7

the unexpectancy of winning money releases much dopamines, which makes the feelings more intense and therefore addicted to gambling

relapsing actions that are happening at the expenses of other activities and persisting even though they are negative

Question 8

Explain the two addictive drugs and why are they addictive

Answer 8

Cocaine
blocks the reuptake of the dopamine, which provides more dopamine for the post-synaptic neurones and more excitation (i.e., step 6)

Amphetamine
not only blocks the reuptake, but even releases more dopamine

addictive because addictive drugs guarantees a dopamine fire after the expected reward/signal

the more addictive drugs that are being taken in > the more instant the reward will kick in > the more addictive it gets

also damages the pfc which is vital for decision making