PSY 2301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Mesolimbic Pathway, Reuptake, Prefrontal Cortex
22 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Addictive drugs alter the level of neurotransmiters in the reward pathway. Mimics look like neurotransmiters; man addictive drugs mimic dopamine; When cociane is abused; clog vacuum cleaners that reuptake dopamine. Aka gives dopamine for a longer amount of time. Things that actually make us feel good go into hibernation. Which is why we need to re-administer drug to be happy. The synapse fights back by depleting the amount of dopamine receptors. Something about genes that make people vulnerable to addiction. People who tend to take longer to get drunk are more susceptible to become alcoholics/addictions. Low response to alcohol - higher risk to become addicted. Recovering addicts relapse when they return to their neighbourhoods/friends. Scanned the brain of longterm addicts - but drug free for two weeks. While watching two videos not much brain activity in both. Recruite other parts of the brain to help deminish effects of depression.
