Neurobiology of Addictive Behaviour

Question 1

what is gaming disorder

Answer 1

pattern of gaming behaviour characterised by:

• impaired control over gaming
• increased priority given to gaming over other activities
• escalation of gaming

Question 2

what goals do humans priorities for survival

Answer 2

food
sex
shelter

Question 3

what is the effect of drugs on dopamine release

Answer 3

amphetamine - sharp rise then fall
cocaine -
nicotine - sharp rise then slow fall
morphine -

Question 4

what happens in a chronic addiction

Answer 4

tolerance to reward

much less response to dopamine

dopamine receptors down regulate - threshold for rewards during abstinence is increased

therefore normal everyday activities feel unrewarding and the reward response is not evoked

Question 5

what is the role of the frontal cortex in preventing addiction

Answer 5

makes sound decisions for the long term
sets goals, focuses attention
keeps emotions and imputes under control to achieve long term

Question 6

what is the ICD-10 criteria of dependance

Answer 6

a strong desire to take the substance

difficulties in controlling substance use

a physiological withdrawal state

tolerance

neglect of alternative pleasures

persistence despite evidence of harm

Question 7

what does dopamine release effect in the prefrontal cortex

Answer 7

• ability to update information
• ability to select new goals
• ability to avoid compulsive repetition of a behaviour

-addictive drugs provide a potent signal that disrupts normal dopamine related learning in the PFC

Question 8

what parts of the brain cause learned drug associations and cue craving

Answer 8

hippocampus
striatum
amygdala

Question 9

what is the role of the orbit-frontal cortex in addiction

Answer 9

Assigns values of importance to different events

key creator of motivation to act

addicts show increased OFC activation when presented with drugs

activations corresponds with self reported drug cravings

Question 10

is there a genetic component to genetics

Answer 10

YES - most heritable complex psychiatric condition

40-60% of the risk is due to genetic factors

Question 11

how does stress impact addiction

Answer 11

acute stress triggers dopamine release in the neural reward pathway

rapid increase can motivate drug seeking in dependent people

chronic stress dampens dopaminergic activity reducing sensitivity to normal rewards

Question 12

why are teenagers vulnerable to early substance misuse

Answer 12

prefrontal cortex not fully matured so can’t ‘put brakes’ on the reward system