physiology

Question 1

dopamine release effects on the prefrontal cortex

Answer 1

• ability to update info within PFC
• ability to select new goals
• ability to avoid compulsive repetition of a behaviour

addictive drugs provide a potent signal that disrupts normal dopamine-related learning in the PFC

Question 2

which parts of the brain are critical in acquisition, consolidation + expression of drug stumulus learning? (memory + habit in addiciton)

Answer 2

hippocampal
amygdala

Question 3

orbito-frontal cortex role in addiction

Answer 3

provides internal representations of saliency of events + assigns values to them
- key creator of motivation to act

addicts show increased activation of OFC when presented with drug cues
hyperactivity correlates with self reported drug cravings following exposure to cues

(changes in OFC persist into abstinence)