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
Where are D2 receptors found?
The nucleus accumbens
What does NAc stand for
nucleus accumbens
What does dopamine connecting to D2 receptors create?
Feeling of pleasure, euphoria and relaxation
What happens when dopamine reaches the NAc?
Triggers the release of more dopamine from the NAc
Where does the release of dopamine from the NAc go?
Down the mesocortical pathway to the pre-frontal cortex
What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?
What we pay attention to and decision making
How does dopamine in the prefrontal cortex link to nicotine addiction?
Make the decision to smoke again in order to feel the same pleasurable feelings
What does the brain neurochemistry explanation say overall about nicotine addiction?
Explains why people repeatedly smoke and become addicted to nicotine
What type of conditioning is smoking behaviour learnt through?
Operant
