KINE 4660 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gateway Drug Theory, Classical Conditioning, Mesolimbic Pathway
13 Dec 2017
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The paradox of addiction: chasing the first high, over time we like the high less and less but want it more and more. Desensitization: tolerance to certain effects of the addictive behaviour: the rewarding effects aren"t as good, our brains can"t control the amount of dopamine or receptors that we have the addictive behaviour, including natural rewards. The receptors don"t die outside of our comfort zone. The brain does down regulating of the receptors (in the striatum) to protect itself. This is why we like the substance less and less. The problem here is that we are down regulated to all pleasure, not just. Sensitization: behaviour is increasingly under the control or appetitive and conditioned stimuli: the same dose gives an elevated response, think of allergies, occurs with an intermittent use, depends on the individual and the drug. Increases the likelihood that you will use again.
