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Faryal Wasti Malcolm Campbell English 1103 03 October 2013 Self-Rewarding Merriam-Webster defines addiction as a compulsive need for use of a habit-forming substance, characterized by tolerance and physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. Addictions can range from drinking coffee every morning to heroine dependency. To get to the bottom of what causes such extreme addictions in human beings, the neurological reasoning for what triggers certain chemical reactions in the brain will be viewed. According to Medical News Today, addictive behavior is caused when a substance releases a reward neurotransmitter through the brain, known as dopamine. Individuals with heavy addictions have relied on a dopamine releasing substance for so long that the bodys tolerance level has increased. Therefore, it takes more of the addictive substance to receive pleasure, and the brain becomes incapable of releasing the dopamine neurotransmitter without the addictive substance. I had learned a bit about the reward center and dopamine in AP Psychology last year, and found it interesting that the same neurological imbalances cause addictions ranging from smoking to extremes like cocaine. It is proven that most people with an addiction are in denial about their condition. Most do not believe they have a problem, but whatever it is that they are doing is by choice and not physical or psychological need. According to Candace Plattor, a Canadian clinical psychologist,
Comment [S9]: Change to that Comment [S7]: This is my own commentary on what I was stating about Medical News Today. So I did not take MCs suggestion on citing a source after it, and cited it before my commentary. Comment [S8]: Changed to extreme addictions Comment [S1]: Changed papers font to Times New Roman- 12 Comment [S2]: Added anecdote here to draw reader in Comment [S3]: Italicize

Comment [S4]: Remove e Comment [S5]: Remove word b/c MC asked what extreme was and Im not just talking about extreme addictions

Comment [S6]: Italicize

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there are different methods used by addicts in denial of their problem. There is rationalizing, where one convinces him or herself that they are allowed to reward themselves time to time. There is blaming, for example, you would too if you had a wife like mine. There is minimizing, which includes thoughts such as, so what if I drink and do pot every day, at least Im not doing heroine. And the most common self-delusion- the belief that one can stop whenever they feel like it. In fact, according to Medical News Today, the main difference between an addiction and a habit, is the difference that a habit can be controlled, and stopped whenever wanted, while an addiction cannot. In a habit there is no psychological issue or dependency on a substance, and the brain functions the same way as a non-addicts brain. While an addicts brain physiology is completely different with increased and decreased activity in many parts, and overtime- overall function. So what is the neurological reason behind addiction? How can some individuals discontinue their addictive habits and some not? According to, The Chemical Carousel, the physical appearance of an addict and non-addicts brain are significantly different. This means that there are different reactions occurring, with different effects on behavior and cognitivity. The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain just past the barrier of our forehead that is involved in decision making. Primates and other animals with small-to no- prefrontal cortexes, cannot think actively and abstractly. Now we know that alcohol and drugs can impair an individuals decision and reasoning ability quite a bit. That means these substances affect the prefrontal cortex (Roles of Dopamine and Serotonin in Decision Making). Once the individual in taking the drug or alcohol, overtime the damage to the cortex is done, and it cannot function properly on its own. This in return, causes the poor-decision making cycle of continuing to
Comment [S22]: Take extra hyphen out Comment [S23]: Citation for chem caro added Comment [S24]: Explain the like in suggestion Comment [S25]: Cited properly to authors name : rogers Comment [S26]: I changed this according to Julianas suggestion because MC said it was confusing and reading over it, it could be worded better and I liked her suggestion. Comment [S21]: Elaborated on what I meant in a few sentences with an example Comment [S19]: are because there are more than one Comment [S20]: the article to identify what Chem. Caro. Is. Comment [S10]: Change comma to semi-colon Comment [S11]: Rearrange wording and mention cheating

Comment [S12]: Remove E Comment [S13]: All of this information was coming from Candace plattor. I cited her in the beginning of the paragraph as an in-text citation and again at the end. Comment [S14]: Italicize Comment [S15]: Comment [S16R15]: Remove because of extra wording Comment [S17]: Source cited Comment [S18]: Add apostrophe

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participate in addictive behavior, because the individuals decision making center has been impaired with overusing a harming substance. This does not however actually cause the person to be addicted to the substance. Serotonin and Dopamine are the reward neurotransmitters located in the mid-brain. This means that they reinforce behavior at the neurological and chemical level. According to the primary research article, Roles of Dopamine and Serotonin in Decision Making, dopamine and serotonin work together to reinforce natural, unconditioned behaviors, such as eating, in humans so that we continue to carry-out acts that keep us alive. For example, food is good and it makes us feel good because dopamine is the neurotransmitter released when we eat. Eventually, we want to keep feeling this natural high, and therefore we continue to eat for the rest of our lives. When alcohol or drugs are consumed, they cause the mid-brain to release excess dopamine neurotransmitters, taking the individual to the next level of that feel-good state. While dopamine makes it seem like youre in a state of high, risk-taking environment, serotonin leaves one feeling relaxed and chill in a way (Psychology Today). Of course it is another feel-good neurotransmitter, so the activities that cause serotonin to be released are reinforced overtime. Dopamine and Serotonin are two neurotransmitters that were evolutionarily adapted by humans to keep us in routine of doing things that help our body remain healthy, and ultimately keep us alive. Food and sleep for example, release these neurotransmitters giving a sense of natural high and happiness, reinforcing this behavior and causing us to continue it. These are the same neurotransmitters that are released by drugs and alcohol, and when taken in excess
Comment [S33]: Cited correctly as When the Thrill is Gone Comment [S30]: Remove hyphen Comment [S31]: I did not change this example like MC had suggested because I feel like it works in this part of the paper, as well as two paragraphs down. Comment [S32]: Cited: Rogers Comment [S29]: Italicize Comment [S27]: Mention what actually does-> serotonin and dopamine Comment [S28]: Lowercase

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amounts, can cause one to become dependent on them in order to feel the high. This eventually causes addiction to occur overtime, if not instantaneously. There are two different types of addictions that are known of as of now. The scientifically acknowledged branch is substance addiction. Substance addiction is the abuse of some type of substance, for example drugs and alcohol as the most common. The second type of addiction is behavioral addiction, which is acting on compulsive behavior without much control. Behavioral addiction is not considered a real type of addiction by most, and is a much newer thought as compared to substance addition which has been around for a while. Examples of behavioral addiction include eating disorders, internet addiction, and hypersexualized behavior. Marc Lewis, Ph.D. in addicted brains suggests that behavioral addictions should be officially accepted as a type of addiction because the brain processes involved are the same in substance addiction as well. Lewis states that the commonality between the two types of addictions is the compulsion that the addicts have. Behavior addicts can be compulsive gamers, while substance addicts can be compulsive smokers. Both have the same parts of their brain activated and impacted by these two branches of addiction. Dr. Fineberg, a well-recognized researcher, says that the ventral regions of the prefrontal cortex, show less connection over time, and the brains ability to control itself becomes less to nonexistent- depending on the extremity of the addiction. This can be seen in the previous information given, that the prefrontal cortex- the decision making part of the brain- is impaired when under substance abuse. Now we know that this neurological reasoning is the same for behavioral addiction as well. Addicts show increased brain activity in the amygdala oblongata, which is the part of the brain which controls emotional conditioning.

Comment [S34]: This what? -> natural high Comment [S35]: Expanded on instantaneous addiction example as suggested by MC

Comment [S36]: By most people and psychologists

Comment [S37]: Added a hyphen here to clarify. I know it sounds a bit strange but there really doesnt seem to be a way to word it. He words with brains of addicts AKA addicted-brains in simpler form. I believe this could add style to my paper.

Comment [S38]: Source cited

Comment [S39]: First name was added- in notes but missed that somehow

Comment [S40]: Source added because Dr. Fineberg is not a separate source, his comments were made in the Common Denominator article.

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There is also a lower activation in the nucleus accumbens, which is the part of the brain that seeks rewards (The Common Denominator of All Addictions). The emotional attachment to a substance or behavior constitutes for the compulsive behavior in an addict. There is always a need for the addictive substance whether it is the internet or a cigarette. Once the body has a higher tolerance of the addictive behavior or substance, there is more required to receive the reward that the nucleus accumbens causes your body to seek. This results in a cycle of addictive behavior because a proper decision cannot be made, there is emotional attachment to the addiction, and more is needed every time.

More information added in random parts of the article.

Comment [S41]: To clarify and fill in holes

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Work Cited
source "All About Addiction." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2013. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/addiction/>.
Comment [S42]: Merriam Webster source added

"How Is Addiction Diagnosed." Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. "Is Your Addiction Making Your Life Miserable?" Addictions Counselling, Vancouver, BC, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Alcohol, Addictive Behaviour. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. Lewis, Mark. "The Common Denominator." Psychology Today. N.p., 01 July 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addicted-brains/201307/the-commondenominator-all-addictions>. Lewis, Mark. "When the Thrill Is Gone: Reward Deficiency Syndrome." Psychology Today. N.p., 19 Aug. 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2013. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/addictedbrains/201308/when-the-thrill-is-gone-reward-deficiency-syndrome>. Rogers, Robert D. "Roles of Dopamine and Serotonin in Decision Making." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. "The Chemical Carousel." The Chemical Carousel. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
Comment [S45]: Publisher added Comment [S43]: This actually is an article, so I cannot site it differently Comment [S44]: Publisher added