ANTH106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Impulsivity, Putamen, Amygdala
Document Summary
Most commonly recently used drugs were cannabis, misuse of pharmaceuticals, cocaine, and ecstasy. Preference for using ice over other forms of methamphetamine continued to rise. Methamphetamine has overtaken excessive alcohol drinking as the drug of most concern to. Increased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens makes something rewarding. Reward includes: euphoria excitement relaxation. This lead to the hypothesis that if dopamine is responsible for the sensation of reward, then it is. Aversive stimuli such as electric foot shock, tail pinch or aggressive attacks in animals also increases dopamine neurotransmission. Mice who lack the dopamine transporter will still self-administer cocaine. Individual differences all drugs increase dopamine neurotransmission, but only a small percentage of people become addicts (about 15%) What is addiction: a state characterised by: Compulsion to seek and take the drug to experience its rewarding effects. Wanting to avoid the discomfort experienced in its absence. Sensitised (enhanced) negative effects psychosis, anxiety, depression.