Nicotine addiction Flashcards
What are the two explanations for nicotine addiction?
Brain neurochemistry (role dopamine)
Learning theory
are you gonna smash this?
yesss
What is brain neurochemistry?
Chemicals inside the brain that regulate psychological functioning
What does brain neurochemistry suggest about nicotine addictions?
Formed due to the repeated activation of the brains reward pathway
Where does nicotine reach when inhaled?
The bloodstream
What is activated when nicotine reaches the bloodstream?
nACh receptors and the brains reward pathway
How long does it take to activate nACh receptor and reward pathway after inhaling nicotine?
less than 10 seconds
What does nACh stand for?
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Where are nACh receptors activated?
The ventral tegmental area
What does VTA stand for?
Ventral tegmental area
Where are a large number of dopamine neurons concentrated?
In the VTA
What does dopamine indirectly stimulate?
The VTA
Where is dopamine released from?
The VTA
What is dopamine sent down through?
Mesolimbic pathway
What does dopamine reach at the end of the mesolimbic pathway?
D2 receptors