Question

Module #4 – Psychological Disorders and Learning: In the article, a neurologist named Dr. Antonello Bonci states the following, “In a sense, addiction is a pathological form of learning.” Based on the article and what we’ve learned this term, explain what Dr. Bonci means by this statement. Detail the specific factors that influence “learning” in this context.

Answer 1

​ this statement implies to the fact that drug seeking behaviors would be obtained as a result of long persistence which results in relapse of risk, and drug controlling behaviours. As a result of learning as well as memory. This learning results in a control behavior. There is involvement of neural mechanisms which would be shaping the survival as well as behaviors of a person with respect to the rewards that people obtain after performing those behaviors.

Despite the consequences, towards the negative side, that people have, a person becomes entangled in the use of drugs. People become persistent in using and on withdrawal witness withdrawal symptoms.

The neural mechanisms involved use the role of dopamine which acts in the motivational form to result in a drug associated stimuli. The motivational aspects are strengthened with the release of dopamine, and the more it is secreted would be with respect to the greater amount of external cues and incentives.