Evaluation

• Boileau et al 


  6 participants underwent PET scans before and after an oral dose of alcohol. Alcohol lead to an increase in dopamine in the brain.
• Boileau evaluation

  • PET scans are objective data that scientific
  • cause and effect relationship cannot be fully established ( taste of the alcohol, other people ?)
  • there were only 6 ptts, meaning that is cannot be generalised to a larger group of the population - questions the population validity
• Yonder et al?


  
  

  • Compared dopamine activity in social drinkers and alcoholics
  • Gave participants an alcohol infusion and conducted PET scans
  • found an increase in dopamine in alcoholics and not in social drinkers
  • Suggests that alcohol itself is not Directly linked to an incerase in dopamine levels
  • another factor may cause the dopamine reward pathway to work differently in addicts.
• complex role of dopamine 


  dopamine also plays a role in other psychological disorders like schizophrenia. it has also been found that dopamine levels increase in the presence of aversive stimuli, suggesting that the brain systems not only motivate us to seek out something pleasant bus also help us avoid something unpleasant
• It has also been said that is is fashionable to blame dopamine for causing a range of problems.
• Methods of modification 


  Reducing the release of dopamine could help diminish the cravings of addictive behaviour. Varenicline is is a drug prescribed to those who are trying to quit smoking. It works by effecting the dopamine release in the brain.
• Varenicline ?

  it binds to the nicotine receptors, tricking the brain into thinking that it has had nicotine and leads to a small amount of dopamine to be released, which alleviates withdrawal symptoms and cravings. this drug also reduces the rewarding effects of nicotine by blocking the ability of nicotine to activate the receptors and trigger a release.
• determinism and ethical implications

  • can an addict then be held accountable if its all about dopamine levels. are they no longer in control of their addiction if their dopamine system has bee hijacked
  • their is a stigma around addicts, as they are seen as lacking “willpower” however this explanation could reduce this stigma as it suggests that the addiction is out of the addicts control
  • but if addicts feel as if its out of their control they may feel powerless if they wish to change it
• methodological issues 


  the sample sizes are often very small, and when testing these addicts, the research is often conducted in a lavatory that des not reflect real life