AQA A-Level Psychology 7182
Social Influence
Memory
Attachment
Approaches in Psychology
Biopsychology
Clinical Psychology and Mental Health
Research Methods
Scientific Processes
Quantitative and Qualitative Data
Data Handling and Analysis
Inferential Testing
Issues and Debates in Psychology
RelationshipsOption 1
GenderOption 1
Cognition and DevelopmentOption 1
SchizophreniaOption 2
Eating BehaviourOption 2
StressOption 2
AggressionOption 3
Forensic PsychologyOption 3
AddictionOption 3
Explanations for Nicotine AddictionOption 3
Explanations for Nicotine Addiction
Brain neurochemistry, including the role of dopamine
- 5 things to know
- Paper 3
Overview
The receptors nicotine binds to, the dopamine response in the reward pathway, how tolerance develops, and why stopping produces withdrawal.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What happens in the brain when nicotine reaches the ventral tegmental area?
How does tolerance to nicotine develop?
Why does stopping nicotine produce withdrawal symptoms?
How fast does inhaled nicotine reach the brain?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What type of receptors does nicotine bind to in the brain?
Model answer
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) located on neurons in the brain.
- 2
In which two brain regions are nicotinic acetylcholine receptors found in particularly high concentrations?
Model answer
The ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens.
- 3
What happens when nicotine binds to nAChRs on dopaminergic neurons in the VTA?
Model answer
The dopaminergic neurons fire and release dopamine.
- 4
Where is dopamine released to when VTA neurons are stimulated by nicotine?
Model answer
Into the nucleus accumbens, which is part of the brain's reward pathway.
- 5
What is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway and what does it connect?
Model answer
It is a neural pathway connecting the VTA to the nucleus accumbens, and it is central to reward and reinforcement.
- 6
How does dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens contribute to nicotine addiction?
Model answer
It produces feelings of pleasure and reward, which reinforces smoking behaviour.
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