Neuroscience of Addiction and Substance Use Disorders - Lecture Summary

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the neuroscience of addiction and substance use disorders, as discussed in the lecture.

Substance Use Disorder

A clinical diagnosis characterized by a loss of control over reward-seeking behavior and a set of symptoms including tolerance and withdrawal.

Neurocircuitry of Reward

The brain pathways responsible for processing rewards, primarily involving the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system.

Person-first language

A linguistic approach that emphasizes the individuality of a person rather than defining them by their condition, e.g., 'person with substance use disorder' instead of 'addict'.

Tolerance

A condition where increased doses of a substance are needed to achieve the same effect due to changes in the body's response.

Withdrawal

A group of symptoms that occur when a person stops or reduces the intake of a substance they have become dependent on.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the brain's reward system, regulating feelings of pleasure and reinforcement of behaviors.

Stigma

Negative attitudes and beliefs about a group of people or a condition, which can act as barriers to treatment and support for substance use disorders.

Reward System

A collection of brain structures that communicate with each other to drive feelings of pleasure in response to rewarding stimuli.

Addiction

Difficult to definitively define; generally refers to a compulsive pattern of seeking and using substances or engaging in behaviors despite adverse consequences.

Intrinsic Self-stimulation

Behavioral experiments where animals self-administer electrical stimulation to pleasure centers in the brain.

Neurobiology of addiction

The study of how biological processes in the brain relate to addiction and the mechanisms of substance use disorders.

Compulsive Behavior

Actions that are performed repeatedly and uncontrollably, often associated with addiction and loss of control.

Individual differences

Variations in how different individuals respond to substances, influenced by genetics, environment, and personal history.

Cues and cravings

Environmental stimuli that trigger feelings of desire or urge for a substance, often leading to relapse in addiction.

VTA (Ventral Tegmental Area)

A key brain region involved in the reward circuit, responsible for dopamine production.

Ethical considerations in addiction research

The moral implications of conducting research, especially when it involves pain or suffering, particularly in animal models.