Neurobiology of Addiction

The reward pathway, in the most basic sense, begins in the floor of the midbrain at the [blank_start]ventral tegmental area[blank_end] (clue: VTA), which then projects to the [blank_start]nucleus accumbens[blank_end]. This structure then projects finally to the [blank_start]prefrontal[blank_end] cortex.

The reward pathway is also known as the

The mesolimbic pathway is one of the four ...

In terms of the nucleus accumbens, overexpression of which gene transcription factor is thought to be the main influencer of addiction?

Patients showing addictive behaviours tend to have a preserved insight; they know they are unwell.

Dopamine release usually has the ability to update info and set new goals in the prefrontal cortex, thus having the ability to avoid compulsive repetition of a behaviour. Addictive drugs provide a potent dopamine signal which disrupts the normal dopamine learning pathway in the prefrontal cortex.

On average, those who start experimenting with drugs earlier in life tend to have a shorter relationship with drugs.

Which part of the frontal cortex concerns the following: Emotion and reward in decision making; hyperactivity of this area during addiction behaviour represents craving

In [blank_start]non-addicted[blank_end] brains, areas such as the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus send inhibitory signals to the orbitofrontal cortex and thus the sensation of craving [blank_start]does not[blank_end] occur. In [blank_start]addicted[blank_end] brains, the nucleus accumbens sends inhibitory signals to areas such as the Anterior Cingulate Gyrus so that the inhibitory signals are not sent to the Orbitofrontal cortex and thus the sensation of craving [blank_start]does[blank_end] occur