Motivation & Addiction

purpose for or cause for an action; what causes a person to want to repeat a behavior and vice versa

an increase in the probability that the behavior performed to achieve a goal (reinforcer) will be performed again

stimuli around primary enforcer that may acquire reinforcing qualities

Model of drug abuse: blames the abuser for a lack of moral character or a lack of self-control

Model of drug abuse: the abuser requires medical treatment; assumes there is no abnormal condition in the addict’s brain

Model of drugs abuse: withdrawal avoidance model; abusers use drugs to avoid withdrawal symptoms (negative reinforcement)

Model of drugs abuse: drug use is a behavior controlled by positive reinforcement with no disease

all addictive drugs change ______, therefore they must interact w/ ____________ systems in the brain

methods by which drugs interact w/ the brain

• _____ release of a neurotransmitter

• block ______ of a neurotransmitter

  • serve as an _____/______ for a neurotransmitter

stimulant that acts as an agonist on nicotonic ACh receptors and is highly addictive

increases heart rate, blood pressure, intestinal activity

stimulant that blocks monoamine transporters, especially for DA, slowing reuptake; purified extract from coca shrub

synthetic stimulants that cause DA release and block reuptake; resemble catecholamine transmitters

alcohol’s effects are ______, meaning there is an initial stimulant phase followed by a depressant phase

alcohol ACTIVATES _____{__} receptors → social disinhibition, loss of motor coordination

alcohol STIMULATES ___ pathways → euphoria

damage to the developing fetus after mother abusing alcohol during pregnancy

drugs that are directly made from poppy seedpods; analgesia (pain killing); HIGHLY addictive

4 examples of opiates

all drugs, synthetic and nautrally-derived from the poppy, that mimic morphine

2 examples of opioids are

peptides produced in the body that bind to opioid receptors

opioids induce respiratory ________ via (activation/inhibition) of u-opioid receptors in the (CNS/PNS)

u-opioid receptor antagonist that pushes opioids off receptors, saving lives

separation b/t useful doses of a drug and dangerous doses

successive exposures to drugs have decreasing effects

tolerance: organ systems become more effective at eliminating the drug

tolerance: target receptor/protein may show altered sensitivity to the drug

neurons (down/up)-regulate in response to an agonist drug (fewer receptors available) and (down/up)-regulate in response to an antagonist

tolerance: tolerance to a whole class of chemically similar drugs

drug effects become stronger w/ repeated treatment

(EX: cocaine sensitization → more anxiety)

microdialysis studies show that DA levels are ______ in the _____ ________ following administration of every addictive drug

DA release promotes _____, _____ strategies, and _____

excessive DA release causes “____-_______” of drug-seeking behaviors

the “GO” circuit is found in the _____/______ ________ cortex and is involved in regulating and engaging in motivational tasks and attention

the “STOP” circuit is found in the _______ cortex and is involved in providing inhibitory control over behavior

treatment for addiction: prevents metabolism of alcohol and leads to build-up of acetaldehyde, which makes people feel sick

treatment for alcohol addiction: opioid receptor antagonist

treatment for addiction: glutamate and GABA

treatment for nicotine addiction: nACh receptor partial agonist

treatment for opioid addiction: methadone, buprenoprhrine, suboxone; intended to replace opioid use

there are no FDA-approved drugs for ______ and _________ addiction