Substance Abuse Flashcards

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1
Q

Drugs are primarily used for their rewarding and euphorigenic effects (positive reinforcement)

A

Dopamine theory

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2
Q

Drugs produce their desired effects by increasing the activity of the reward pathway which consists of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that connect to the nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, and other areas of the limbic system

A

dopamine theory

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3
Q

dopamine theory

A

Drugs produce their desired effects by increasing the activity of the reward pathway which consists of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) that connect to the nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, and other areas of the limbic system

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4
Q

dopamine theory

A

Drugs are primarily used for their rewarding and euphorigenic effects (positive reinforcement)

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5
Q

Drugs are primarily used for self-medication purposes, such as relief from negative emotional states (stress, anxiety, etc.)

A

Self-medication theory

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6
Q

Over time, tolerance to these effects develops, resulting in increased drug intake to produce desired effects, which leads to dependence and withdrawal which further perpetuates the cycle of addiction

A

Self-medication theory

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7
Q

__________ is the process of maintaining stability through adaptation

A

allostatis

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8
Q

initial drug use is primarily controlled by the drug’s rewarding effects, but chronic drug use produces tolerance to the rewarding effects and behavior that is largely controlled by negative reinforcement

A

allostatis theory

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9
Q

states that all pleasant or unpleasant processes are followed by an opposite “opponent process”. Over time, the primary process becomes weaker while the opponent process is strengthened.

A

opponent-process theory of motivation

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10
Q

addiction develops from a sensitization of the mesolimbic dopamine system

A

Incentive sensitization theory

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11
Q

this dopamine system normally functions to attribute incentive salience
(attention-getting and desirable qualities, or “wanting”) to reward stimuli such as
food and sex

A

Incentive sensitization theory

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12
Q

• Wanting is different than liking (the positive experience of euphoria)
• Drugs hijack this “wanting” system, and chronic use causes the dopamine system
becomes hyper-responsive and drug cues to become hyper-salient

A

Incentive sensitization theory

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13
Q

In other words, drug cues are nearly impossible for addicts to ignore, and when
they are encountered they can lead to intense cravings and/or relapse, even years after an addict quits drugs and drug biological withdrawal has ceased.

A

Incentive sensitization theory

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14
Q

Abused drugs promote neuroplasticity, which is the long-term alteration of the function of neurons and synapses that underlies normal learning and memory processes

A

abberant learning and memory theory

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15
Q

The end result is over-strengthening of the neural circuits that
produce habits, memories of prior drug use, and associations between drugs/drug effects and environmental contexts and cues (similar to incentive sensitization theory)

A

Aberrant learning and memory theory

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16
Q

The prefrontal cortex exerts “top-down” executive control over behavior, impulse control, planning, decision-making, and responsiveness to external cues and punishment

A

Hypofrontalism theory

17
Q

Addictive drugs cause deficits in prefrontal cortex structure and function that lead to loss of impulse control, impaired planning and decision-making, exaggerated responsiveness to drug-associated cues, and compulsive drug use despite adverse consequences

A

Hypofrontalism theory

18
Q

Major dopamine systems of the brain: reward, motivation, pleasure, attention, located in VTA –> frontal lobe

A

mesocorticolimbic pathway/reward

19
Q

Major dopamine systems of the brain: motor control, habitual behaviors, located in substantia nigra –> striatum

A

nigrostriatal pathway

20
Q

regulates mood, pleasure, appetite, sleep, learning, memory, sexual function

A

serotonin

21
Q

Regulates energy, arousal, alertness, attention, learning, memory, autonomic function

A

Neocortex

22
Q

Where is the neocortex located in the brain?

A

locus coerulus

23
Q

Regulates arousal, attention, learning, memory, autonomic function

A

Acetylcholine

24
Q

As the major _____ and ______ neurotransmitters in the brain (~50-70% of all synapses), neurons containing glutamate and GABA (respectively) are widely distributed throughout the brain

A

excitatory, inhibitory

25
Q

“maladaptive __________ that occurs in ________ ___________ in response to repeated exposure to a drug of abuse”

A

neuroplasticity, vulnerable individuals

26
Q

Epi means?

A

above, over, in addition to

27
Q

_______ regulation of gene expression outside of the DNA nucleotide sequence.

A

Heritable

28
Q

How do genes get turned off?

A

Tightly coiled genes

29
Q
– Neuronal spine changes
– Receptor localization, density, composition 
– Transporter localization
–  Synaptogenesis
–  Neurotransmitter
concentrations
– Immediate early genes
A

Maladaptive neuroplasticity through epigenetic regulation of gene expression