Neurobio of addiction

Question 1

What is tolerance to reward?

Answer 1

Due to repeated dopamine release, dopamine receptors down regulate

Threshold for rewards during abstinence is increased

Normal pleasure experiences don’t evoke adequate reward response

These persist despite prolonged abstinence.

Question 2

What is the orbito frontal cortex?

Answer 2

Key creator of motivation to act

Addicts have increased activation of OFC when presented with drug cues.

Question 3

Role of the pre frontal cortex?

Answer 3

Helps intention guide behaviour

Modulates powerful effects of the reward pathway

Question 4

What is the function of the striatum and hippocampus?

Answer 4

Striatum- Habit learning

Hippocampus- Declarative learning

Question 5

Which brain areas are responsible for inhibitory control?

Answer 5

Prefrontal cortex and Anterior cingulate gyrus

Question 6

Which brain areas are responsible for motivation/drive?

Answer 6

Orbitofrontal cortex

Subcallosal cortex

Question 7

Which brain area is responsible for memory/learning?

Answer 7

Amygdala

Hippocampus

Question 8

Which brain areas are responsible for reward/salience?

Answer 8

Nucleus accumbens

Ventral pallidum