neurophysiology of addiction

Question 1

VTA sends ___ to ___

Answer 1

dopamine to nucleus accumbens

Question 2

the ventral tegmental area receives excitatory input from

and what NTs

Answer 2

prefrtonal cortex: EAA
lateral hypothalamus: orexin
laterodorsal tegmental nucleus: acetylcholine

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Question 3

the ventral tegmental area provides a dopaminergic input to the NA via the ___

Answer 3

median forebrain bundle

Question 4

in addition to dopaminergic VTA input, the NAc also receives excitatory inputs from where and what NT

Answer 4

HAP

hippocmpus, amygdala, prefrotnal cortex
EAA

Question 5

output from the NAc is to the ___ using ___ then sends signal to _____ using ___ and cotransmitter __

Answer 5

prefrontal cortex using GABA
back to VT using GABA which acts a negative feedback
-also cotransmitter dynorphin back to VTA

Question 6

opioid inputs to VTA does what

Answer 6

inhibits subset of GABA-ergic interneurons which increases the release of dopamine in the NAc

Question 7

nucleus accumbens, D1 ____ and D3___

Answer 7

activate direct

inhibit indirect

Question 8

VTA releases ____ to Nac which causes ____ which then causes the prefrontal cortex to produce ___

Answer 8

dopamine to NAc which causes decreased release of GABA which decreases inhibition on prefrontal cortex to increase pleasure

Question 9

preventing pleasure

Answer 9

it is not HAPpening

hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex release EAA on the NAc which increases GABA which works on the prefrontal cortex and prevents pleasure

Question 10

what else do the opioid inputs activate

Answer 10

locus ceruleus

periaquaductal grey

Question 11

opiates are agonist where and what receptor

Answer 11

opioid

second messenger system Gi

Question 12

cannabis works at what receptor and leads to what

Answer 12

CB-1, leads to dopamine release

Question 13

ethanol/PCP work at what receptor

Answer 13

antagonist at NMDA

Question 14

nicotine action

Answer 14

agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors

influx of sodium occurs

Question 15

cocaine moa

Answer 15

inhibits re-uptake of dopamine

Question 16

amphetamines moa

Answer 16

reversal of dopaine reuptake transporters

Question 17

ethanol activates what

Answer 17

opioid inputs particularly to the VTA

Question 18

PCP and ethanol do what

Answer 18

disrupt EAA inputs to the NAc

Question 19

agents that increase the activity of VTA dopaminergic neurons

Answer 19

coaine
amphetamines
cannabis

Question 20

nicotine activates ___ on ____ and induces them to release ___

Answer 20

nAchR on VTA to release dopamine

Question 21

blocking what in the VTA can block some of the effects of the illegal drugs but can cause what

Answer 21

NMDA receptors but can cause hallucinations

Question 22

long term changes in neurons as a result of addictive drugs depends on and how does it work

Answer 22

CREB
within the NAc
leads to increased production of dynorphin which is an opioid substance that binds to kappa receptors

the NAc also sends GABA-ergic and dynorphinergic input back to VTA = desensitization

Question 23

activation of ____ within the _____ and _____ are associated with the physical dependence on the drugs

Answer 23

CREB

locus ceruleus and periaquaductal grey

Question 24

what is delta-FosB

Answer 24

a long term response to drug addiction
within the NAc, it has been shown to increase BDNF proteins responsible for remodeling of dentrites that occurs (increased number of dendrites and spines)