DRD2 gene - Nicotine addiction
Cards (7)
- What does nicotine do to the production of dopamine?> nicotine increases dopamine transmission> nicotine causes more dopamine to be transmitted from ventral regimental area to the nucleus accumbens (Mesolimbic pathway)> transmitted from ventral regimental area to pre-frontal cortex (mesocortical pathway)
- What are D2 dopamine receptors?> linked to pleasure and reward> dopamine binds with D2 receptors in brain> many D2 dopamine receptors are found in the ventral regimental area and the nucleus accumbens> pleasure seeking gene
- What is the A1 variant?> significantly fewer D2 dopamine receptors, they are unable to feel pleasure and rewards in the same way as someone without variant> result in 'reward deficiency'> likely to depend on nicotine in order to gain pleasure
- Paragraph 1AO1
- nicotine + dopamine transmission
-DRD2 gene + A1 variantAO3+- NOble: questionnaires about smoking status + blood tests for A1 variant. 48% of smokers had A1 variant, 25% non-smokers
Development point +- quantative data: objective comparisons
AO3 -- Friedman: structured interviews with teenagers. Peer encouragement and exposure to smoking peers were risk factors
Development point -- useful applications: interventions for those with A1 variant
- PARAGRAPH 2AO1
- reward deficiency (25% have A1 variant)
AO3 +- specific gene using blood tests. Objective - statically analysed
- increases credibility
AO3 -- presence of gene alone doesn't cause addiction
Development point -- distressing stress model better explains it
- PARAGRAPH 3AO1
- downregulation + tolerance
AO3 +- Spitz: lung cancer patients with A1 variant, smoked from a younger age
Development point +- self-report data
AO3 -- ignores interaction between nature and nurture, focuses on nature
- CONCLUSIONAO3+
- useful applications: nicotine replacement therapy
AO3 -- ignores social context (parties) - reductionist