Nicotine Addiction: GENETICS Flashcards

Brain Chemistry and Dopamine

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1
Q

(Essay Only) How does the behaviour of Smoking initiate according to the function of genes? (3 points)

A
  • Some people inherit a genetic vulnerability to start smoking & ultimately develop an addiction
  • One candidate gene for smoking is the A1DRD2 variation
  • Seems to cause defective & insufficient dopamine receptors in the brain’s reward circuitry, meaning individuals can’t produce pleasure naturally & may engage in smoking behaviours to raise dopamine to optimal levels
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2
Q

How is Smoking maintained - IN SHORT (2 points)

A
  • As nicotine is a stimulant it increases the production & activity of dopamine in the brain
  • We tend to find this very rewarding, which leads to repetition of the behaviour
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3
Q

How is Smoking maintained according to dopamine activity (5 points)

A

1 - Nicotine stimulates specific receptors - acetylcholine receptors (NaCR)

2 - This causes rise in dopamine activity in the VTA : critical area in the brain’s reward circuitry highly populated with NaCR = rewarding sensation

3 - VTA activity caused by nicotine is then projected to the nucleas accumbens = producer of dopamine located deep in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway

4 - Nucleas accumbens = priamry reward centre in the brain, and as dopamine use rises, users evaluate it as very pleasurable - compelling more use

5 - (ADDITIONAL HIT) At the same time, the nucleas accumbens encouraged to release more dopamine as nicotine stimulates endorphins that reduce GABA - correlated with further rises in dopamine

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4
Q

How do Smokers relapse according to the process of downregulation (4 points)

A
  • Nicotine triggers dopamine firing in the mesolimbic pathway = a reward or a ‘kick’
  • With LT use, the Nicotine Regulation Model suggests the smokers ‘reward system’ becomes less active (downregulation) i.e. specific acetylcholine receptors become inacitve = anxiety
  • To avoid this, smokers continue to maintain certain level of nicotine in their bodies to avoid unpleasant side effects
  • As a result of this, an increased amount of nicotine is needed to achieve the same initial ‘kick’
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5
Q

(Strength) Outline Paterson et al’s (2002) study (3 points)

A
  • Researched the use of Gamma-vinyl GABA, which **redueces the surge of dopamine in the nucleas accumbens
  • Effectively reduces addictive properties of nicotine, without major side effects
  • Illustrates the involvement of dopamine with smoking addiction
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6
Q

(Strength) What is the Practical Application of the biochemical explanation? (2 points)

A
  • Delivering therapeutic doses of nicotine in the early stages of smoking
  • The use of inhalers has been shown to keep 28% of the treatment group off smoking for 12 months
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7
Q

(Weakness) Outline Nerin & Jane’s (2007) study (3 points)

A
  • Showed ‘Beta bias’
  • Argued onset of smoking addiction has significantly different between sexes i.e. women typically start smoking much later
  • The biological reasoning for this is ignored
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8
Q

(Weakness) Explain how the account neglects the role of NURTURE (2 points)

A
  • Peer approval for smoking can create reinforcement (that activates dopamine) - little to do with the biological action of nicotine
  • Perhaps nicotine & peer approval collectively account for rises in dopamine
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