W10: Theories of Addiction

Question 1

Theoretical models of addiction - associative learning - (2)

Answer 1

1. ­Learning associations or links between behaviours and stimuli
2. ­Operant and classical conditioning

Question 2

Associative learning - reinforcement- (3)

Answer 2

1. ­Outcome (reward) increases the frequency of future responses
2. ­Reinforcements strengthen behavioural tendencies
3. ­Effectiveness of reinforcer depends on motivation

Question 3

Associative learning - positive reinforcement - (3)

Answer 3

1. ­Positive = addition of a stimulus (e.g., something rewarding - adding drug)
2. ­Hungry rat pressing a lever to earn food pellets
3. ­Human administering cocaine to feel intense euphoria

Question 4

Drug switches from positive reinforcement to

Answer 4

Negative reinforcement

Question 5

Associative learning - negative reinforcement (3)

Answer 5

1. ­Negative = removal of a stimulus (e.g., something aversive)
2. ­Rat pressing a lever to remove a bright light
3. ­Human administering cocaine to alleviate withdrawal symptoms

Question 6

Associative learning - addiction as maladaptive learning (3)

Answer 6

1. ­Drugs act as powerful reinforcers
2. ­Effects from drugs of abuse create hard to forget associations
3. ­Cues activate these associations and promote drug craving

Question 7

Associative learning example in terms of drinking (3)

Answer 7

• Walk past pub (situation = cue exposure)
• Activates associative process (spreading activation) of concepts related to the situation –> pub related to euphoria
• Behaviour = craving alcohol

Question 8

Associative learning –> why drugs appealing to us

Incentitive sailence is..- (2)

Answer 8

the strong association between stimuli (drug) and reward

­Incentivized stimuli elicit motivation to pursue stimuli for reward

Question 9

Incentive salience explains in terms of drug use

Answer 9

­Explains compulsive drug use, where a simple cue (drug) may motivate users to engage in drug seeking

Question 10

Incentive sailence:

Typical behaviours are not rewarding enough to

Answer 10

develop incentive sailence

Question 11

Associative learning

Addiction as hypersensitization of drug’s effect (4)

Answer 11

• ­Typical rewarding behaviors elicit “liking” versus “wanting”
• ­Drugs may develop into “wanting” rather than “liking”
  
  • ­Repeated use and intense effects develops incentive salience
  • ­Incentive salience leads to compulsive drug use

Question 12

Incentive salience: A case study

Can non-drug behaviours develop incentive silence? (3)

Answer 12

1. Elicits strong euphoria
2. Fanbase exhinbit compulsive behaviours
3. Cues loosely linked to franchise (May 4th) elicit craving for Lego sets

Question 13

Theories of addiction

Allostasis (3)

Answer 13

­Maintenance of physiological state around a setpoint that has deviated from the body’s normal setpoint

­Addicts no longer gain satisfaction from natural rewards (e.g., setpoint elevated from allostasis)

Applies to stages of addiction

Question 14

Allostasis vs homeostasis (2)

Answer 14

1. ­Homeostasis: process which biological systems maintain balance and equilibrium­
2. ­Allostasis: process which changes homeostatic setpoint which is thought to be adaptive or advantageous

Question 15

Maladaptive allostasis - drug use (2)

Answer 15

• After repeated drug use
• New altered set point there which is higher so higher amount of dopamine is needed to feel rewarded
  *

Question 16

Allostatic during binge intoxication of drugs (a repeated drug with high doses)

causes overstimulation of (3)

Answer 16

• ­dopamine leads to allostatic changes in reward systems
  
  • ­Reduction in natural dopamine release
  • ­Decreased amount of receptors for dopamine

Question 17

Allostatic changes during binge intoxication of drugs (a repeated drug with high doses)

are thought to be.. (3)

Answer 17

­adaptive, adjusting for the increased dopamine being released due to presence of drug

• ­Brain does not know drug’s presence is temporary
• Assumes something endogenous is responsible for increased dopamine

Question 18

Allostasis (after elevating the set point) during withdrawal and negative affect of drug

Procceses during withdrawal (7)

Answer 18

1. ­Processes during withdrawal:
2. ­Downregulation of dopamine receptors has occurred
3. ­Reward circuits “underwhelmed” without presence of drug
4. ­Natural release of dopamine is now reduced
   
   1. ­Not enough to stimulate receptors
   2. ­Decreased availability of receptors
5. ­Leads to anhedonia and depression-like symptoms

Question 19

Allostasis (elevating setpoint) during preoccupation/anticipation stage

this leads to craving and drug-seeking (5)

Answer 19

­Brain adapts to “new normal” set by drug abuse

­When drugs are removed, brain still expects them

­Negative reinforcement

• Crave ­drugs reduce unpleasant withdrawal symptoms
• ­Drug seeking as reinforcement to alleviate symptoms

Question 20

Opponent-process theory of drug addiction (5)

Answer 20

1. ­Drug effects are counteracted by opposing actions in body
2. ­These actions attempt to bring the body back to equilibrium to maintain normal processes at a particular setpoint
3. ­Creates withdrawal symptoms
   
   1. ­Extreme highs (with drug)
   2. ­Extreme lows (without drug)

Question 21

Opponent-process theory

A process vs B process (2)

Answer 21

1. ­A process = effects of drug (immediate), fast onset
2. (after A) ­B process = countereffects of body, slow-onset (slower)

Question 22

Oppnent-process theory

which A/B comes first? (4)

Answer 22

1. ­A process occurs first, explains euphoric effects of drug
2. ­B process follows behind, reducing effects A process (drug)
   
   1. ­B process lasts longer than A process (drug)
   2. ­Leads to withdrawal/negative affect following drug use

Question 23

Oponnent Theory - (3)

Answer 23

• Taken drug (bottom)
• Peak euphoria experiece of A
• Then B processes reacts to this and counteract this

Question 24

Opponent-process drug theory - repeated drug use… (7)

Answer 24

1. ­Diminishes effects by developing tolerance
2. ­Impact of A process (drug) stays similar to first use
3. ­Severity of B process (countereffects by body) stronger and quicker
4. ­Leads to shorter/weaker experience of the drug
   
   1. ­Drug may only make you feel “back to normal” (e.g., functional alcoholics)
   2. ­Can promote higher dosage to counteract B processes to experience effects
5. ­More severe withdrawal symptoms after intoxication

Question 25

Opponent-process theory - what happens during the B process anyways?

Answer 25

­Potential release neurotransmitters which oppose the drugs effects

Question 26

Oponnent- process during the B process anyway? (enzymes) - (5)

Answer 26

1. ­Also more enzymes are released to quickly break down drug
2. ­Body learns how to effectively fight off and dispose of drug
3. ­But how?…
   
   1. ­Associative learning (Associates drinking environment with enzyme release)
   2. ­Context/environment

Question 27

Oponnent process - what happens during B process? (enzymes) example duck - (2)

Answer 27

• When we drink alcohol
• Release alcohol dehydrogenase (enzyme) breaks down alcohol to remove alcohol in the body

Question 28

Oponnent process - what happens during B process? (enzymes) example duck repeated drink - (2)

Answer 28

Associate drinking with euphoria

Associate alcohol with certain environments (like the pub)

Enough for your body to learn to release alcohol dehydrogenase

Question 29

Opponent process : taking drug in unfamiliar place - (2)

Answer 29

­your body does not know to start up the “B processes” which are responsible for tolerance

­i.e., you would likely get drunk faster in the classroom (or doing one of my students’ experiments…)