explanations for nicotine addiction: brain neurochemistry

• neurochemistry?

  Relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate biological and psychological functioning.
• Dopamine?

  A neurotransmitter that generally has an excitatory effect and is associated with the sensation of pleasure. Unusually high levels are associated with schizophrenia and unusually low levels are associated with Parkinson's disease
• strength - research support

  p- dopamine explanations of nicotine addiction has support from human research.

  e- McEvoy et al. (1995) studied smoking behaviour in people with schizophrenia who were taking the antipsychotic drug Haloperidol. This drug is a dopamine antagonist. people taking the drug showed a significant increase in smoking. presumably a form of self-medication - the individuals used nicotine as a means of increasing their depleted dopamine levels.

  l- supports the view that dopamine has a key role in the neurochemistry of nicotine addiction.
• CA for research support?

  p- explanations of nicotine addiction that consider only the role of dopamine are limited

  e- dopamine system is central but research increasingly shows a complex interaction of several neurochemical systems. Watkins et al. (2000) said these include neurotransmitter pathways (e.g. GABA and serotonin), plus other systems such as endogenous opioids (endorphins, the brain's natural painkillers).

  l- neurochemistry of nicotine addiction cannot be fully understood if looking at only dopamine.
• another strength - real world application

  p- neurochemistry leads to new treatments.

  e- NRT helps smokers quit. developed after nicotine was identified as the addictive component in cigarette smoke with effects on nAChRs. NRT products deliver a controlled dose of nicotine. acts neurochemically by binding with nAChRs, mimicking effects of nicotine from cigarettes

  e- satisfies cravings and allows a user to reduce withdrawal symptoms safely by gradually reducing their nicotine dose over weeks.

  l- greater understanding of neurochemistry has led to an effective treatment for nicotine addiction.
• limitation - withdrawal symptoms

  p- neurochemical explanation does not fully explain withdrawal.

  e- withdrawal symptoms depend mainly upon the amount of nicotine in the body. However, Gilbert (1995) points out that these factors are not strongly correlated. argues instead that withdrawal depends much more on environment and personality.

  e- people who score high on the personality dimension of neuroticism generally experience se withdrawal symptoms than people who are emotionally stable.

  l- withdrawal effects can be explained in other ways without reference to amounts of nicotine.