Biological D

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Mesolimbic dopmine pathway

  • ventral tegmental area - nucleus accumbens - PF cortex

Are wanting and thinking the same thing?

  • wanting - anticipation of pleasure; craving
  • liking - pleasure experienced in consuming

Role of dopamine 

  • DA activation increases power of an eternal cue to engage behaviour
  • presentation of food releases dopamine
  • block dopamine, animals won't work to get access to food, eat less

What does control liking?

  • opioid system
  • inject opiate agonist (morphine) - hedonic reaction to food increased
  • block opioid system (naloxone) - decrease positive facial expressions

Addiction

  • if dopamine controls wanting what does it tell us about drug addiction?
  • opponent process model
  • > drug use initially motivated by positive reinforcement
  • > over time, tolerance to rewarding effects, but abstinence leads to withdrawal
  • > drug use ultimately maintained by negative reinforcement
  • > withdrawal symptoms maximal within few days after stopping drug use, but susceptibility to relapse continues to grow for weeks to months

How do neurotransmitters work?

  • 1) synthesis and storage of neurotransmitter molecules  in synaptic vesticles
  • 2) release of neurotransmitter moleules into synaptic cleft
  • 3) binding of neurotransmitters at receptor sites on postsynaptic membrane
  • 4) inactivation…

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