Neurobiology of Addiction Flashcards

Which brain region is most impaired in addiction, contributing to poor impulse control and continued drug use despite negative consequences?

Answer: Prefrontal cortex

Prefrontal cortex dysfunction in addiction impairs executive functions including inhibitory control, decision-making, and the ability to override drug-seeking behavior.

Glutamate's role in addiction is most accurately described as:

Answer: Mediating neuroplasticity and learning that reinforces drug-seeking habits

Glutamate mediates synaptic plasticity and learning processes that strengthen drug-associated memories and habitual drug-seeking behavior.

Kappa-opioid receptor activation is associated with which affective state that contributes to the negative reinforcement cycle of addiction?

Answer: Dysphoria and aversion

Kappa-opioid receptor activation produces dysphoria and aversive states, which during withdrawal motivates drug use to escape negative affect (negative reinforcement).

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system's role in addiction primarily involves:

Answer: Mediating stress-induced relapse and negative emotional states during withdrawal

CRF drives the stress response in the extended amygdala and is a key mediator of negative emotional states during withdrawal and stress-induced drug craving and relapse.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) in addiction neuroscience is significant because:

Answer: It strengthens synaptic connections encoding drug-related learning and craving

LTP strengthens glutamatergic synapses encoding drug-cue associations in regions like the nucleus accumbens and amygdala, making drug memories highly persistent.

The 'incentive salience' theory of addiction proposes that compulsive drug seeking is driven by:

Answer: Excessive 'wanting' attributed to drug cues, dissociated from actual drug 'liking'

Incentive salience theory (Robinson & Berridge) distinguishes 'wanting' (dopamine-mediated craving) from 'liking' (opioid-mediated pleasure), explaining why craving persists despite reduced pleasure.

Chronic alcohol use affects GABA-A receptors primarily by causing:

Answer: Downregulation and decreased sensitivity, leading to tolerance and withdrawal seizure risk

Chronic alcohol (a GABA-A positive allosteric modulator) causes GABA-A receptor downregulation and reduced sensitivity, creating tolerance and dangerous withdrawal when alcohol is stopped.