Addiction memory

A kind of (low-dose) dependence may also develop when alcohol is consumed daily, albeit in minor quantities. As a rule of thumb, alcohol always makes people dependent when consumed on a regular basis — no matter what the dose may be. Alcohol addiction comprises (1.) physical dependence including increased tolerance as well as the withdrawal syndrome and (2.) psychological dependence with an uncontrollable desire for permanent or intermittent alcohol consumption, reduced self-control as well as changes in behaviour, (s. tab. 28.1) Alcohol abuse includes addiction without actually being identical to it. Neither the brain s reward system (A. Herz et af, 1989) nor the addiction memory (X Boning, 1992) are stimulated by occasional alcohol consumption. Another explanation for this... 

Rawson RA, Gonzales R, Brethen P Treatment of methamphetamine use disorders an update. J Subst Abuse Treat 23 145—150, 2002a Rawson RA, Huber A, Brethen P, et al Status of methamphetamine users 2—5 years after outpatient treatment. J Addict Dis 21 107—119, 2002b Reneman L, Lavalaye J, Schmand B, et al Cortical serotonin transporter density and verbal memory in individuals who stopped using 3,4-methylenedioxymetham-phetamine (MDMA or ecstasy ) preliminary findings (comment). Arch Gen Psychiatry 58 901—906, 2001... 

Miotto K, Darakjian J, Basch J, et al Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid patterns of use, effects and withdrawal. Am J Addict 10 232-241, 2001 Moncini M, Masini E, Gambassi F, et al Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and alcohol-related syndromes. Alcohol 20 285-291, 2000 Morgan MJ Memory deficits associated with recreational use of ecstasy (MDMA). 

In the vertebrate CNS monoamines have been associated with a number of physiological functions (reviewed in Kandel et al., 1991). Serotonin has functions associated with mood, pain, sleep, learning, and memory. Dopamine has functions associated with schizophrenia, Parkinson s disease, and cocaine addiction. In vertebrates, dopamine is further metabolized into two additional neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Norepinephrine increases the excitability of cells in response to sudden sensory input such as fear. Epinephrine has been identified in specific neurons of the brain, but the function of these cells is unknown. In addition, AADC has also been found in a class of neurons that do not have any of the four neurotransmitters discussed above (Jaeger et al., 1983). These neurons may use one of the trace amines, tyramine, tryptamine, or phenylethylamine, as a neurotransmitter. 

Robbins, T.W., Everitt, B J. Limbic-striatal memory systems and drug addiction. Neurobiol. Learn. Mem. 78 625, 2002. 

Kelley, A.E. Memory and addiction shared neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms. Neuron. 44 161, 2004. 

Block RI and Wittenborn JR (1986). Marijuana effects on the speed of memory retrieval in the letter-matching task. International Journal of Addictions, 21, 281-285. 

Addiction may result from inappropriate neuronal plasticity. As discussed in earlier sections of this chapter, drugs of abuse activate the same neuronal pathways as natural reinforcers. However, they do so in a strong and unregulated manner that is hypothesized to lead to abnormal engagement of learning and memory mechanisms, ultimately producing abnormal plasticity in neuronal circuits involved in motivation and decision-making. As a result, the addict becomes narrowly focused on compulsive, habitual behaviors associated with the addictive... 

Drugs of abuse have profound effects on transcription factors and gene expression. These effects are clearly important for long-lasting changes in brain function. Two transcription factors strongly implicated in addiction are CREB and AFosB [23], CREB is important for learning and memory and is activated by phosphorylation. 

Popik P. (1996). Facilitation of memory retrieval by the "anti-addictive" alkaloid, ibogaine. Life Sci. 59(24) PL37945. 

The following section illustrates advances made using in vivo microdialysis by describing the contributions of this technique to the study of memory and drug addiction, which are our areas of research interest. In addition, we have chosen two areas that present unique challenges and new apphcations of this procedure, specifically the study of ontological development and the use of in vivo microdialysis in human research... 

Mendrek A, Monterosso J, Simon SL, Jarvik M, Brody A, Olmstead R, et al (2006) Working memory in cigarette smokers comparison to non-smokers and effects of abstinence. Addict Behav31(5) 833-844... 

Luo, J., J. H. Yin, H. Z. Wu, and Q. Wei. Extract from Fructus cannabis activating calcineurin improved learning and memory in mice with chemical drug-induced dysmnesia. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2003 24(11) 1137-1142. Degenhardt, L., W. Hall, and M. Lynskey. Exploring the association between cannabis use and depression. Addiction 2003 98(11) 1493-1504. Zajicek, J., P. Pox, H. Sanders, et al. Cannabinoids for treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis (CAMS study) multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2003 362(9395) 1517-1526. 

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