Explanation 1 - Dopamine

Question 1

what is varenacline

Answer 1

varenacline - trade name is champix
it is a drug prescribed to those who are trying to quit smoking, and it works by affecting dopamine release in the brain

Question 2

what does varenicline do

Answer 2

it binds to nicotine receptors, tricking the brain into thinking it has had nicotine and leading to a small release of dopamine, which alleviates craving and withdrawel symptoms.

Question 3

mark griffiths 6 criteria

Answer 3

salience
tolerance
withdrawal symptoms
relapse
conflict

Question 4

what is the dopamine gene

Answer 4

DRD2

Question 5

what is the dopamine receptor

Answer 5

D2

Question 6

what is the DRD2 variant called

Answer 6

A1 variant

Question 7

what is the DRD2 gene and what does it do

Answer 7

DRD2 is the dopamine gene
A1 variant of the DRD2 gene has fewer dopamine receptors. therefore less pleasure in the nucleus accumbens during activities like eating and sex
so individuals try to overcompensate in order to gain satisfaction

Question 8

stats for DRD2

Answer 8

smokers and ex smokers
gamblers and non addicts

Question 9

what were the stats for smokers and ex smokers

Answer 9

48.7% ex smokers and smokers carried A1 variant compared to 25.9% general population

Question 10

stats for gamblers

Answer 10

50.9%

Question 11

who is dr nora volkow

Answer 11

researcher for brain changes due to addiction

Question 12

what did nora volkow say

Answer 12

although dopamine pathway is starting point of addiction to develop it also causes changes to frontal cortex that turn engaging behaviour into addiction

Question 13

frontal cortex

Answer 13

part of the brain that is linked to higher cognitive functions
decides what to pay attention to so the brain attaches attention to the behaviour

Question 14

what was bolla et al 2003 research?

Answer 14

that cocaine addicts also so impaired performance in tasks that would usually use the frontal cortex such as decision making

Question 15

wang et al 1999

Answer 15

addicts show an increase in activity in their frontal cortex when exposed again to the drugs or cues associated with them

Question 16

volkow et al

Answer 16

has shown cocaine addicts show abnormalities in their frontal cortex- this explains why some addicts say they no longer enjoy experiance but cannot overcome cravings

Question 17

robinson and berridge 2005

Answer 17

therefore the dopamine system is playing the role of making the individual want to engage in the behaviour rather than just simply making them like it

Question 18

one way of modifying addiction

Answer 18

use of varenacline

Question 19

what is varenicline trade name champix

Answer 19

drug prescribed to those who are trying to quit smoking and works by affecting dopamine release in the brain

Question 20

how does varenicline work

Answer 20

it binds to nicotine receptors tricking the brain into thinking it had had nicotine and leading to a small release of dopamine which alleviates carving and withdrawal symptoms

Question 21

what does this prove

Answer 21

the fact that varenicline has been proven successful could provide extra support for the role that dopamine plays in addiction , although it seems more effective when used alongside other methods

Question 22

what are the evaluation points for DOPAMINE

Answer 22

1. not all addictive behaviour increases dopamine levels
2. the complexity of the role of dopamine
3. methodology issues
4. use of non human animal studies

Question 23

not all addictive behaviours increase dopamine levels

Answer 23

paul stokes et al - found no significant increase in dopamine levels in volunteers taking cannabis
karmen yoder et al - found no consistent increase in dopamine across participants in their study who were given alcohol, therefore not appropriate to say that dopamine explains all

Question 24

the complexity of the role of dopamine

Answer 24

due to the effects of dopamine, ignores the fact that dopamine has a range of other functions
vaughan bell 2013 refers to dopamine as the ‘kim k of neurotransmitters’ suggesting it has become fashionable to blame dopamine for causing a range of problems where in truth the brain system involved are more complicated than media presents

Question 25

further - complexity

Answer 25

dopamine levels increase in the presence of aversive stimuli as well, suggesting that the brain systems not only motivate us to seek something pleasant but also help us avoid something thats unpleasant

Question 26

what is the evidence for aversive stimuli

Answer 26

Israel Liberzon showed that increased activation in the NAc in war veterans suffering from PTSD when reminded of battle through combat sounds which does not match the idea of this area being simply about pleasure and experiences we find enjoyable

Question 27

what are the methodology issues of dopamine explanation

Answer 27

done in lab

Question 28

why is lab environment an issue

Answer 28

David Nutt et al 2015 critised methodology
- the samples in the study are often small
- when participants are given the substance to measure its effects its given in diff forms (nicotine inhalators rather than cigers)
- in lab rather than usual environment ( eg smoking with group of friends)= meaning the measured effects may not be accurate

Question 29

use of non human animals

Answer 29

good as it allows researchers to study the effects of drugs in ways that are not possible with humans (making rats self stimulate w drugs), the studies may not give true insight into how humans become addicted. it misses the social context in which many addictions take place and also cannot replicate behavioural addictions like gambling or computer games ==== therefore results may not be generalisable to humans or all types of addictions