Pharmacology of Reward

Question 1

The brain pathway central to the reinforcing effects of dopaminergic drugs is the _____________.

Answer 1

ventral tegmental area (VTA) to nucleus accumbens

Question 2

The nucleus accumbens generates ____________.

Answer 2

drug-seeking behavior

Question 3

In general, drugs with shorter half lives and faster onset of action have higher ________________.

Answer 3

abuse potentials

Question 4

Dr. French notes that the amygdala is crucial in what aspect of reward association?

Answer 4

Integrative processing of associations; it does so by receiving input from the cortex and sending projections to the VTA

Question 5

There are three areas of the prefrontal cortex that connect to the nucleus accumbens: the VMPFC, DLPFC, and OPFC. What is their collective function?

Answer 5

Regulating (OPFC), analyzing (DLPFC), and integrating (VMPFC) impulses with the emotional state – basically, learning to delay/deny gratification

Question 6

The ____________ induces cravings and sends signals to the VTA and thence nucleus accumbens.

Answer 6

amygdala

Question 7

All drugs that induce addiction do so by ________________.

Answer 7

increasing dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (some more directly than others)

Question 8

Other than ketamine, there is another street drug that targets the NMDA receptor: ______________.

Answer 8

phencyclidine

Question 9

When the amygdala secretes ____________ onto the VTA, then the VTA secretes dopamine onto the nucleus accumbens. Thus, this molecule is also implicated in pathologic learning.

Answer 9

glutamate