NIC Brain neurochem explanations

• initiation:

  • nicotine takes over pleasure systems in mesolimbic system MSL
  • Starts in VTA that contains mainly dopamine neurones and stimulate release into nAcc
  • this affects prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision making
  • explaining why smokers choose short term rewards over long term losses
  • Nicotine overstimulates dopamine pathways causing pleasure and euphoria explaining initiation and the want to repeat
• Maintenance:

  • when someone goes without nicotine, whilst asleep e.g., it is metabolised
  • making smoker experience acute withdrawal syndrome as nicotinic receptors are available but not being stimulated (become sensitised)
  • to avoid withdrawal, they smoke another, activating receptors
  • continuous cycle of sensitising and desensitising causes some receptors to stay permanently desensitised (chronic desensitisation)
  • so a smoker must increase intake for the same effects explaining how it is maintained to avail withdrawal and feel normal
• Ao3:

  p- sre

  e- McEvoy et al

  e- smoking behaviour with Sz who were taking haloperidol increased, used as form of Self medication

  l- rienforcing importance of dopamine reward system in addiction

  p- real life application

  e- practical applications like treatments

  e- nicotine replacement therapy in form of patches have led people to overcome addiction

  l- suggesting helped develop treatment, increasing validity
• Ao3 continued:

  p- biologically reductionist

  e- unfairly simplifies to internal only

  e- was found 50% people experiment smoking become dependant- most had peers who smoked/felt they underachieved in school

  l- suggesting other crucial environmental and psychological factors are being ignored