Podcast
Questions and Answers
The mesolimbic pathway is responsible for emotions and motor function.
The mesolimbic pathway is responsible for emotions and motor function.
False
Under normal physiological conditions, the mesolimbic dopamine signal facilitates constructive behavioral adaptation.
Under normal physiological conditions, the mesolimbic dopamine signal facilitates constructive behavioral adaptation.
True
Addictive drugs create strong but appropriate learning signals that support healthy behaviors.
Addictive drugs create strong but appropriate learning signals that support healthy behaviors.
False
The hypothalamus is involved in motivated behaviors like food and sex.
The hypothalamus is involved in motivated behaviors like food and sex.
Signup and view all the answers
Serotonin agonists, such as LSD, are known to produce pleasurable experiences without any side effects.
Serotonin agonists, such as LSD, are known to produce pleasurable experiences without any side effects.
Signup and view all the answers
Nicotine is a non-addictive component of tobacco plants.
Nicotine is a non-addictive component of tobacco plants.
Signup and view all the answers
The majority of nicotine in humans is metabolized into cotinine.
The majority of nicotine in humans is metabolized into cotinine.
Signup and view all the answers
Brain changes caused by addiction do not affect a person's decision-making ability.
Brain changes caused by addiction do not affect a person's decision-making ability.
Signup and view all the answers
Vaping is considered completely safe for health.
Vaping is considered completely safe for health.
Signup and view all the answers
Cotinine can serve as an indicator of tobacco smoke exposure.
Cotinine can serve as an indicator of tobacco smoke exposure.
Signup and view all the answers
Nicotine acts as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Nicotine acts as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Signup and view all the answers
Once addiction is established, individuals often have better control over their drug cravings.
Once addiction is established, individuals often have better control over their drug cravings.
Signup and view all the answers
The health complications related to smoking include various serious diseases.
The health complications related to smoking include various serious diseases.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Reward & Pleasure (Neurobiology of Drug Addiction)
- Cocaine blocks dopamine transporter, increasing dopamine levels in the reward pathway.
- The reward pathway is a brain circuit crucial for drug addiction.
- Addiction involves the neurotransmitters involved in feelings of pleasure and reward.
- The reward pathway is an ancient evolutionary circuit mediating responses to natural rewards like food, sex, and social interactions.
Lecture Objectives
- Students need to describe neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure and reward.
- Students need to explain the role of the reward pathway in drug addiction.
- Students must describe the psychosocial and medical complications of drug addiction.
Neuronal Cells
- Neurons are fundamental units of the nervous system.
- A neuron comprises parts like dendrites, axon, and terminal buttons.
- Synaptic vesicles contain neurotransmitters.
- Neurotransmitters relay signals across synapses.
Brain Reward System
- Mesolimbic Pathway: reward, attention, learning, and memory.
- Mesocortical Pathway: emotion and motor function.
- Hypothalamus: motivated behaviors like food, sex.
Dopamine Hypothesis of Addiction
- Under normal conditions, the mesolimbic dopamine system signals learning and reinforcing constructive behaviors.
- Addictive drugs trigger a strong, inappropriate learning signal, leading to compulsive behavior.
Dopamine Pathways
- Functions of dopamine pathways in the brain: reward, motivation, pleasure, euphoria, motor function (fine-tuning), compulsion, perseveration.
- Dopamine pathway connections include the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and VTA.
Serotonin/5-HT
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in various physiological processes, including sleep, appetite, thermoregulation, and pain perception.
- Serotonin is associated with mood regulation, memory processing, sleep, and cognition.
- Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, OCD, and anxiety.
Some Drugs Do Not Cause Addiction
- Some drugs alter perception without inducing reward or euphoria sensations.
- Examples include LSD, a serotonin agonist, that results in hallucinations.
Glutamate
- Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS).
- It accounts for roughly 70% of CNS synaptic transmission.
- Glutamate binds to AMPA, NMDA, and metabotropic receptors.
- It has a crucial role in learning and memory, and brain plasticity.
- Drugs such as cocaine increase glutamatergic transmission and enhance activity of mesocorticolimbic neurons.
GABA
- GABA is a main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
- GABA is a crucial neurotransmitter for regulating anxiety and addiction.
Different MoA of Drugs
- Drugs of abuse act initially at synapses and mimic or affect neurotransmitters.
- Drugs can block dopamine pumps (e.g., cocaine, amphetamines).
- Drugs can activate or inhibit channels (e.g., alcohol, PCP, ketamine).
The Problem (Drug Addiction)
- Drug addiction is often considered a disease.
- Initial drug use may be voluntary, but long-term use can affect brain function and lead to compulsive behavior and altered gene expression.
Psychosocial Manifestations of Drug Abuse
- Psychological/Behavioral: Agitation, irritability, dysphoria, difficulty coping, mood swings, hostility, violence, psychosomatic symptoms, hyperventilation, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and psychosis.
- Family: Chronic stable family dysfunction, marital problems, behavioral problems and decline in school performance, anxiety and depression in family members, divorce, and abuse.
- Social: Alienation, loss of old friends, gravitation toward others with similar lifestyles.
- Work/School: Decline in performance, frequent job changes, frequent absences, requests for work excuses, and preservation of work or school function.
- Legal: Arrests for disturbing the peace, driving while intoxicated, stealing, drug dealing.
- Financial: Borrowing or owing money, selling personal or family possessions.
Health Complications
- Effects of drugs/alcohol on the reproductive system, cholesterol, lymph nodes, skin.
- Consequences that could arise from the continuous usage of drugs and/or alcohol.
Different Classes of Addictive Substances: Tobacco & Nicotine
- Nicotine is an alkaloid found in tobacco plants.
- Nicotine is a major psychoactive component of tobacco.
- Nicotine acts as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Nicotine Metabolism
- Nicotine is metabolized, primarily to cotinine, in the body.
- Cotinine is a useful biomarker of smoking/tobacco smoke exposure.
Vape @ E-cig
- Vaping devices heat liquid to produce vapor.
- Vaping liquids often contain nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs.
- Vaping devices can vary in shape, size, and color.
Vape Statistics
- Data on vaping prevalence, types, flavors, and levels of nicotine used.
- Key statistics on aspects of vaping and factors related to it.
Is Vape Safe?
- Vaping is designed, by manufacturers, to be addictive, despite the marketing claims that it is a safer approach.
Genetic Association
- Specific genes linked to nicotine addiction: CYP2A6, OPRM1, HTR2A, CHRNA4, CHRNA5, CHRNA3, CNRNA7, CHRNB4, DRD2, DRD3, DRD4, SLC6A2, SLC6A4.
- Genes involved in metabolic activity, opioidergic activity, serotonergic activity, and dopaminergic activity.
Homework for Tutorial
- Debate about vaping safety.
- Review the topics of the day.
Smoking Toxicity
- Identifying harmful chemicals in cigarettes (e.g., nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, cadmium, mercury, polonium-210, arsenic, formaldehyde).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the neurobiology behind drug addiction in this quiz, focusing on the reward pathway and neurotransmitters involved in pleasure. Understand the significance of the mesolimbic pathway and its role in craving and addiction, as well as the psychosocial and medical implications the condition entails. Test your knowledge on neuronal cells and their functions in relation to addiction.
