PSYC 2240 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Chromosome, Psychosis, Birth Weight
12 Sep 2016
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Addiction: condition marked by repetitive craving and the potential to harm one"s life. Nearly all neurotransmitters + hormones are the same in humans + other species. Agonist: a drug that mimics or increases the effects. Affinity: if a drug binds to a receptor. Efficacy: a drug"s tendency to activate the receptor. People vary in abundance of each kind of receptor. Nearly all abused drugs increase activity at dopamine + norepinephrine synapses. Self-stimulation of the brain: behaviour that is reinforced by electrical stimulation of a brain area. Nucleus accumbens: brain area that is rich in dopamine + is central to the brain"s reinforcement systems. Cocaine + amphetamine block reuptake of released dopamine. Opiates inhibit neurons that release gaba (transmitter that inhibits firing of dopamine neurons) Even after long period of abstinence, exposure to cues associated with the substance triggers a renewed craving. Repeated exposure to substance/cues makes nucleus accumbens more responsive to addictive substance than other types of reinforcement.
