Ventral tegmental area

The term ‘Schizophrenia’ was introduced by Eugene Bleuler in 1908 to describe a set of symptoms previously labelled as dementia praecox. Schizophrenia refers to the splitting of different psychological symptoms within a single personality (Davey, G. 2014). “Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behaviour, and other symptoms that cause social or occupational dysfunction. For a diagnosis, symptoms must have been present for six months and include at

On the other hand, there is research that has been done on the encoding of long-term memory and the amygdala because some say emotional stimulation is positively correlated with long-term memory recall. A study was done to examine this theory using an emotional film and a neutral film. The participants in the experiment received a positron emission tomography while they watched each film to monitor the involvement of the amygdala in the process of long-term memory development with emotional arousal

In 2013, the release of the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) added gambling disorder to the category titled Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 2013) In the previous edition of the DSM, gambling, along with other behavioral addictions were in the Impulse Control Disorders category of the DSM-III and DSM-IV (Clark, 2014). Behavioral Addictions are said to be around for hundreds of

Robert Malenka Robert Malenka is a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Professor Malenka’s laboratory mainly conducts work in two areas of research: the importance of long-lasting activity-dependent changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission to the development of neural circuits, and the effects of drug abuse to synaptic actions. The first area of research focuses on the understanding of molecular events that lead to synaptic plasticity and changes in synaptic efficacy. Professor Malenka’s

An analysis of Operant Conditioning and its Relationship with Video Game Addiction A report published by the Entertainment Software Association revealed that in 2015, 155 million Americans play video games with an average of two gamers in each game-playing household (Entertainment Software Association, “Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry”). With this massive popularity that has come alongside video games in mind, the question is raised: how are video games affecting today's

nigrostriatal dopamine pathways in the mouse? Brief background: In mice, the first DA neuron neurites appear at E11.5. These neurites extend towards the striatum, forming the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), the main neural tract connecting ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra (SNc) to the striatum. At E14.5 the DA neurites approach the border of ventrolateral ganglionic eminence (VM). These neurites then multiply without further

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

Dopamine A chemical of the brain known by most people as the "feel good hormone" or "reward chemical" is dopamine. It is a primary neurotransmitter associated with serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. A great amount of information on dopamine has been studied by researchers, yet there is still so much to learn. This paper will discuss the function, location, and diseases accredited to dopamine. Functions Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger of the brain. Its main responsibility

1. The Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway Composed of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), the mesolimbic dopamine system is the most important reward pathway in the brain. It is a key detector of a rewarding stimulus and when operating under normal conditions it controls the responses to natural rewards, such as, sex, food, and social interactions. Making this pathway important in element in an individual’s motivation and incentive drive. When this pathway is activated, it tells

Addiction” (2004) by Katharine P. Bailey, MSN. In this article, I did not find a general hypothesis. Studies in this article show that most drugs directly or indirectly cause selective elevation of dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NA), the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the limbic system, consequently called the reward center of the brain (Bailey, 2004). Behaviors that bring pleasure and are also crucial to existence (eating, drinking, and sex) also activate the same reward circuitry, however,