Neurobiology of Addiction

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

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Objectives

- Review how tolerance develops

- Discuss the impact of addictive substances and behaviors on the brain and body

Tolerance (Addiction or Physiological or Physical Stress)

- The brain tries to maintain homeostasis in the body (warm bath)

- When you take drugs or experience stress it increases the levels of certain neurotransmitters (stimulants = hot water; depressants=cold water)

- To normalize the chemical levels the brain for survival, the brain “balances the temperature”

- Increases the secretion or receptor activation of the opposite neurotransmitters

- Reduces activation of targeted receptors (cortisol, glutamate etc.)

- To get the same high, more or different triggers are needed

- Withdrawal triggers opposing physiological and psychological symptoms