Neurobiology Of Addiction

Question 1

Is dopamine involved in pleasurable or unpleasurable experiences?

Answer 1

Pleasurable

Question 2

Dopamine D2 receptors are increased/decreased by addiction. Therefore, threshold for rewards during abstinence is increased/decreased.

Answer 2

Decreased

Increased

Question 3

Cortical maturation occurs front to back or back to front?

Answer 3

Back to front- starts with primary motor cortex and ends with prefrontal cortex

Question 4

What areas of the brain are involved in drug-stimulus learning?

Answer 4

Hippocampus, striatum and amygdala

Question 5

What area of the brain show increased activation when addicts are presented with drug cues?

Answer 5

Orbito-frontal cortex

Question 6

Affect of acute stress on dopamine?

Answer 6

Triggers release

Question 7

What affect does chronic stress have on dopamine?

Answer 7

Dampens dopaminergic activity through down regulation of D receptors

Question 8

What is the role of the pre-frontal cortex?

Answer 8

Intention guide behaviour
Modulates powerful effects of reward pathway
Sets goals and focuses attention
Makes sound decisions
Keeps emotions and impulses under control