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Neurobiology of Addiction Flashcards

7 cards from real ADM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Imbalance between GABA (inhibitory) and glutamate (excitatory) systems is most clinically critical during withdrawal from which substance?

    Answer: Alcohol

    Chronic alcohol use suppresses glutamate and enhances GABA; abrupt cessation leads to glutamate rebound and GABA deficit, causing potentially fatal withdrawal seizures.

  2. Solomon and Corbit's 'opponent process theory' of addiction describes addiction as:

    Answer: An initial pleasurable A-state followed by an aversive B-state that strengthens with repeated use

    The opponent process theory posits that the hedonic A-state (pleasure) weakens while the opponent B-state (dysphoria/withdrawal) strengthens, driving continued use to avoid the negative state.

  3. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system activated during withdrawal contributes primarily to:

    Answer: Negative affect and anxiety driving relapse

    CRF release during withdrawal activates stress circuits in the extended amygdala, producing negative emotional states (anxiety, dysphoria) that motivate drug use to relieve distress.

  4. Berridge and Robinson's 'incentive salience theory' distinguishes between 'wanting' and 'liking' in addiction, proposing that compulsive drug-seeking is driven by:

    Answer: Sensitized 'wanting' (motivation) even as 'liking' decreases

    Incentive salience theory holds that dopamine sensitization amplifies 'wanting' (motivation circuits) independently of 'liking' (hedonic circuits), explaining compulsive use despite reduced pleasure.

  5. Chronic opioid exposure leads to upregulation of which intracellular signaling pathway, contributing to dependence?

    Answer: cAMP/PKA pathway (adenylyl cyclase superactivation)

    Opioids acutely inhibit adenylyl cyclase; chronic exposure causes compensatory superactivation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, which manifests as withdrawal when opioids are removed.

  6. PET and fMRI studies consistently show which finding across most substance use disorders?

    Answer: Reduced dopamine D2 receptor availability in the striatum

    Neuroimaging studies consistently demonstrate reduced striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability in individuals with substance use disorders, reflecting dopamine system dysregulation.

  7. The 'kindling' phenomenon in addiction is most clinically relevant to which condition?

    Answer: Alcohol withdrawal seizures becoming more severe with each detoxification

    Kindling refers to the progressive worsening of alcohol withdrawal with repeated detoxifications, where each withdrawal episode lowers the seizure threshold through glutamate sensitization.