11/11-11/13 notes

  • mesolimbic- measures pleasure 

    • makes body go back good for survival 

    • “yes please repeat that” 

  • drugs of abuse act on the same structures as natural reinforcers 

  • mesolimbic 

    • VTA of midbrain projects DA axons to nucleus accumbens 

      • Da levels are increased at N acc following administration of drugs of abuse 

  • frontal cortex 

    • reduced brain activity, particularly in PFC 

      • impulsive/compulsive behavior 

      • increased signal to noise for pleasure 

      • reducing pleasure from natural stimuli 

    • changes in PFC

      • long term 

      • exacerbated by cues for drug

        • how strong it is 

        • (alcohol)- celebratory/coping mechanism 

        • hippocampus and amygdala registered for it 

  • medial forebrain bundle (a path of axons that release dopamine) 

  • limbic is heavily tied to amygdala and hippocampus 

  • mesolimbic: asks amygdala if it feels good for you 

  • Mesolimbic asks hippocampus to remember the pleasure

  • PFC inhibited→ no opposition 

11/13

  • neurotransmitter: action potential 

    • excitatory- will signal 

    • inhibitory- stop signal 

      • dopamine turns off PFC 

        • more impulsivity, compulsivity 

          • impulsive: w/out thinking of consequence 

          • compulsive: “I have to do this” 

            • drink more

            • voice opinion 

  • alcohol leaves blood vessels near language areas and cerebellum 

    • slurred speech 

    • loss of coordination 

  • low dose of alcohol- relaxed, improved mood (happy) 

    • higher dose: angry then sad

      • guilt and shame accompany sadness 

  • black out→ not rlly conscious bc no memory is retained 

  • brain remembers dopamine ofc 

  • relapse :3 

    • want the cues 

      • in the cues but no drinking = craving 

  • use of drugs of abuse leads to sensitized behavior patterns

    • stereotypy: purposeless, invariabale, repetitive head, limb movements, or pacing, gnawing, rearing, blinking 

    • behaviors motivated only by drugs 

    • lack of previously pursued appetitive behaviors 

    • drug seeking 

  • addiction cycle 

    • 1. binge intoxication (incentive salience)

      • dopamine 

      • basal ganglia 

    • 2. withdrawal/negative affect (reward deficit and stress surfeit (too much of)) 

      • amygdala

    • 3. preoccupation/application (executive function deficits) 

      • glutamate

  • binge drinking in one sitting (several hours) 

    • 4 drinks for women

    • 5 drinks for men

  • healthy per week 

    • 7 drinks for women 

    • 14 drinks for men