PSY 1007 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Nucleus Accumbens, Reward System, Reuptake

• School: St. John's University
• Department: PSY - PSYCHOLOGY
• Course: PSY 1007
• Professor: Scott

Document Summary

Drug hijacks the brain: where and how does it aspect the brain. Genetic factors, physiological addict: females may have a more inherent factor as to whether or not they become addicted. Cocaine is a very highly addicted drug: from the very first hit. Become dependent on a drug use: because it pleases them. All drugs involve nucleus accumbens septic: determine if a drug is addicting. The intense stimulation is followed by the immediate compensatory adaption like the withdrawal sympotms: influx of calcium. Even if you don"t take cocaine any more the natural release of dopamine wont have the same effects as before. It may produce permanent changes in responsiveness of neurons in the reward system. Emotional blunting, may not appear to engage in a normal and positive way in the world: recidivism in cocaine addicts, is very high, the normal things in life aren"t the same anymore. Not using their moral compass to make a decision.