Addiction- Nicotine

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What are the two expalantions for nicotine addiction?

-Brain chemistry and dopamine

-Learning theory and cue reactivity

What faulty gene is linked to nicotine addiciton and what does it do?

A1 DRD"2 gene

This gene reduces natural dopamine release in the body

Explain the brain neurochemistry explanation through the hypothesis

The desensitisation hypothesis suggests that people inherit a faulty AiDRD2 gene which means they cant produce enough pleasure from regualr activities.

This leads to nicotine addiciton as nicotine raises dopamine activity and therefore gives them pleasure

Explain the dopamine explanation

1)Nicotine stimulates NAcR which increases alertness and memory function

2)This leads to an increase in dopamine activity in the VTA, this is a critical area in the brains reward circuit which then activities more NAcR in the brain giving nicotine a more rewarding sensation

3)VTA activity is then projected to the nucleus accumbens which is a producer of dopamine in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.

4)Increased activity in the nucleus accumbens leads to a rise in dopamine leading to smoking being even more pleasurable leading to cravings for more

5)The nucleus accumbens is also encouraged to release more dopamine as nicotine stimulates endorphins which reduce GABA activity. GABA is a dopamine suppressor and therefore dopamine rises.

What is downregulation?

Downregulation is when, due to long use, the rewarding pleasure from smoking becomes less active, therefore more nicotine is needed to achieve the same feeling

2 eval for brain and neurochemsitry explanation

• practical application - Nicotine replacement therapy (produces similar effect while also reducing withrdrawal symptons

• Biologically reductionist - other explanations are missed and full explanation is not achieved

What are the 3 main segments of the learning theory?

• Observational SLT process

• Classical conditioning

• Operant conditioning

Explain the 3 segments of the learning theory and cue reactivity

SLT

-Learnt through observations

-vicarious reinforcement (learnt through reulsts of others actions)

Operant conditioning

-Positive reinforcement (good things from the behaviour)

-Negative reinforcement (prevening bad things by doing the behaviour) e.g not feeling left out

Classical conditioning

• Learnt through association

• learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus (e.g., a bell ringing) becomes associated with a stimulus (e.g., food)

2 eval points of the learning and cue reactivity explanation

• Practical application - cue exposure therapy

• Research to refute (Robinson and Berridge)