Addiction and the Reward Circuit

Addiction and the Reward Circuit

Most people are affected directly or indirectly by drug addiction. Many stereotypes including race and socio-economic class are associated with drug addiction. Despite longstanding stereotypes there is more and more evidence being discovered pointing to an explanation from within the brain of the addict. Free will is generally associated with drug addicts as is their choice to use drugs, but free will may not be a factor in addiction. The key to addiction lies solely in the brain, without influence form the "I-function", or free will.

The affect of all drugs of abuse, which are characterized by heroine, cocaine, LSD, opiates, and others, is on what is known as the reward circuit of the brain (1). The circuit includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is connected to the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex in the pathway where they communicate through neurons (4). Other areas of the brain may be involved depending on the drug (2). The VTA and nucleus accumbens are involved in the reward circuit of all drugs (3). The natural function of the reward circuit is to provide a reward and associated pleasurable feelings in response to life sustaining functions, such as eating, to encourage repetition of that function.

The reward circuit functions through the use of neurotransmitters, mainly dopamine. When activated, the circuit triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that induces a pleasurable feeling, from the neurons in the VTA. Drugs of abuse stimulate this same response, in many cases to a greater degree than the natural response causing a spike in dopamine levels. Certain drugs, especially cocaine, can block dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. After being ...

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...tion towards addiction to drugs of abuse. The brain may be solely responsible for the addiction but if this is true, how do people overcome their own brains to recover from addiction. Could it be that the brain changes back to its normal state in turn allowing the addict to recover or could it be the addict forcing his brain to change back to its normal state, causing recovery.

References

1)This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated.

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