KINESIOL 2G03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Frontal Lobe, Addiction, Nucleus Accumbens
2 Apr 2016
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Addict: cravings, loss of control in frequency and amount of use, compulsion to use and usage despite consequences. Drugs directly stimulate the brain reward system to release dopamine. Ventral tegmental area sends projections to the nucleus accumbens area (also medial forebrain area involved in reward and pleasure centre) Food can elicit a dopamine response (good feeling) Cocaine causes dopamine to remain in the synapse longer: accumulation causes intense pleasurable feeling, dopamine transporters are blocked. Frontal cortex receives input from the vta (dopamine: responsible for planning, judgement and inhibition. Brains of cocaine addicts show less activity in frontal cortex. Gage had frontal lobe completely obliterated: became irrational, irritable and self-absorbed, could still function and retain memories. Drug users essentially walk around with a non functioning frontal cortex: lack of empathy, unable to control impulses (despite consequences, loss of control in frequency and amount. Activation of the reward system in anticipation of the drug. Brain learns to anticipate emotionally significant stimuli.
