“Don’t wanna sound like a cynic. We’ve all got a protein they call nicotinic.
It’s a receptor can’t tell the difference between Ach (Acetylcholine) and
nicotine….get a grip. But nicotine leads to too much bindin so Ach receptors get
to hidin. The neuromuscular functions, they can’t quite function cuz your
receptors went out to lunch and now the dopamine system is on for reward
prediction, but it’s down regulated – and your getting addicted. Fixin to kick
the habit? With busted synapses? How tragic.”
Showing posts with label Addictive Behaviour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Addictive Behaviour. Show all posts
14.6.10
Synaptic cleft
Synapse fanatics gather round.....
4.4.10
Radioactive cocaine..
...and the sexy button. The documentary below should give you a lot to think about and raises many ethical issues associated with research on addictive behaviour. The introduction states:
"On BBC 2 now how can anyone kick the habit be it drink, drugs or smoking. Extraordinary research into constant craving. Includes scenes of drug use and animal experiments"
"Olds and Milner (1954) first identified brain sites where direct electrical stimulation is reinforcing. Laboratory animals will lever press at high rates (> 6,000 times per hour) to obtain brief stimulation pulses to certain brain regions. The reinforcement from direct electrical activation of this reward substrate is more potent than other rewards, such as food or water. The potency of this electrical stimulation is most dramatically illustrated in a classic experiment where the subjects suffered self-imposed starvation when forced to make a choice between obtaining food and water or electrical brain stimulation (Routtenberg & Lindy, 1965). A second distinguishing feature of reward from electrical brain stimulation is the lack of satiation; animals generally respond continuously, taking only brief breaks from lever pressing to obtain the electrical stimulation. These two features (i.e., super-potent reward and lack of satiation) are important characteristics of direct activation of brain reward mechanisms".
You can watch the rest of the documentary here...
"On BBC 2 now how can anyone kick the habit be it drink, drugs or smoking. Extraordinary research into constant craving. Includes scenes of drug use and animal experiments"
"Olds and Milner (1954) first identified brain sites where direct electrical stimulation is reinforcing. Laboratory animals will lever press at high rates (> 6,000 times per hour) to obtain brief stimulation pulses to certain brain regions. The reinforcement from direct electrical activation of this reward substrate is more potent than other rewards, such as food or water. The potency of this electrical stimulation is most dramatically illustrated in a classic experiment where the subjects suffered self-imposed starvation when forced to make a choice between obtaining food and water or electrical brain stimulation (Routtenberg & Lindy, 1965). A second distinguishing feature of reward from electrical brain stimulation is the lack of satiation; animals generally respond continuously, taking only brief breaks from lever pressing to obtain the electrical stimulation. These two features (i.e., super-potent reward and lack of satiation) are important characteristics of direct activation of brain reward mechanisms".
You can watch the rest of the documentary here...
3.3.10
French Anti-smoking Ads
"Smoking means being a slave to tobacco"
According to the French Secretary of State for Family these anti-smoking ads should be banned for offending public taste.
Link to: Sexual Slavery and Tobacco Compared in new Anti-Smoking Ad
1.3.10
Schizoskunk
Mindhacks has covered research that suggests that some types of cannabis may contain more THC and less cannabidiol. Herbal cannabis grown to have high levels of THC may be linked to feelings of paranoia and psychosis. The two clips below are from a BBC documentary "Should I Smoke Dope?"
The Mindhacks blog has a link to the whole of the documentary "Should I Smoke Dope"
The Mindhacks blog has a link to the whole of the documentary "Should I Smoke Dope"
Drugs and the Brain
A website that uses animations to give a very clear explanation of how the brain works and the action of a variety of drugs on the brain.
Link to Drugs and the Brain
28.2.10
Not recommended for children....
However, we conclude that there is now sufficient evidence to warn young people that using cannabis could increase their risk of developing a psychotic illness later in life.
Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review
Results seem to be more consistent for vulnerable individuals with the hypothesis that cannabis use may precipitate psychosis, notably among vulnerable subjects. In particular, early onset of cannabis use during adolescence should be an environmental stressor that interacts with a genetic predisposition to induce a psychotic disorder.
24.2.10
21.2.10
Neuron Game
Mindhacks have discovered a game produced by the university of Utah where you can role play a mad scientist and build a neuron.
Why not have a go, you can find it here.
Why not have a go, you can find it here.
The site is a general introduction to genetic science and has a good section on addiction.
Link to Learn Genetics
30.1.10
"I Learnt it by Watching You"
If you study the aggression topic you have to use social learning theory to explain how people, especially children, learn to be aggressive to deal with problems and achieve their objectives.
Watch this ad:
Social Learning Theory and aggression
But, you can also use it to explain how other behaviour, like addictive behaviour, can also be learnt. This can be through direct observation of role models in the social environment or indirect observation. The video clip is an old ad that suggests smoking cannabis can be learnt through direct observation of role models.
Smoking, drinking and drug use can also be learnt through vicarious observation: role models in the media may influence peoples behaviour. Recent research has found that drinking in films may cause people to drink more.
You can always use one theory or explanation to evaluate another theory or explanation. Social learning theory is useful for this, so learn it well and practice using it to explain a variety of behaviour.
Watch this ad:
Social Learning Theory and aggression
But, you can also use it to explain how other behaviour, like addictive behaviour, can also be learnt. This can be through direct observation of role models in the social environment or indirect observation. The video clip is an old ad that suggests smoking cannabis can be learnt through direct observation of role models.
Smoking, drinking and drug use can also be learnt through vicarious observation: role models in the media may influence peoples behaviour. Recent research has found that drinking in films may cause people to drink more.
You can always use one theory or explanation to evaluate another theory or explanation. Social learning theory is useful for this, so learn it well and practice using it to explain a variety of behaviour.
23.7.09
17.5.08
Addiction
This is a useful website about addiction produced by HBO. It views addiction as a brain disease and adopts a biological approach to explaining the compulsive and destructive behaviours of addiction. It emphasises the role played by neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, and how dopamine influences parts of the brain that control pleasure, motivation, emotion, and memory.
If you click on 'THE FILMS' button at the top of the site you can watch film clips on various aspects of addiction including: addiction as a brain disease, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a treatment for addiction, and see how brain imaging is used to understand the physiological impact of drug use on the brain.
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