Reading Assignment for Section 2.2
Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 2.2: The Neurobiology of Addiction.
What You Will Learn
In this section, you’ll explore how drugs affect the brain’s reward system, altering neurotransmitter activity and driving addiction. You’ll examine the changes in brain structure and function caused by repeated drug use and their impact on behavior. By the end, you’ll understand the biological, genetic, and environmental factors that make addiction a complex brain disease, shaping approaches to treatment and recovery.
Student Learning Outcomes for Section 2.2: The Neurobiology of Addiction
- SLO 1: Describe the brain’s reward system and explain how drugs of abuse hijack this system by overstimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine.
- SLO 2: Analyze how repeated drug use alters brain structure and function through neuroplasticity, contributing to tolerance, dependence, and compulsive behaviors.
- SLO 3: Identify the roles of key neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA, in addiction and their effects on mood, reward, and withdrawal.
- SLO 4: Explain how specific brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and basal ganglia, are involved in addiction and the difficulty of quitting.
- SLO 5: Evaluate the implications of understanding addiction as a brain disease influenced by genetics, environment, cravings, and triggers for treatment and recovery approaches.
Modification History File Created: 10/09/2024 Last Modified: 11/24/2024
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