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1. Biobehavioral Determinants of Smoking Eric Donny, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
University of Pittsburgh
3. Primary psychoactive ingredient in tobacco smoke
Rapidly absorbed from the lungs and delivered to the brain
Activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR)
Increased activity in the mesolimbic dopamine system
Produces robust reinforcing effects
Chronic use produces neuroadaptations
heightened reinforcing/incentive motivational effects of nicotine and/or
withdrawal symptoms during abstinence from nicotine
4. Todays talk Some challenges for this model
Some additional features of nicotine and tobacco use that need to be considered
5. Other psychoactive components MAO enzyme that breaks down monoamines including dopamine
Smokers have reduced MAO, an effect attributed to a non-nicotine pharmacological action of tobacco
6. Absorption of nicotine by the lungs
7. Nicotine Activates Nicotinic ReceptorsNicotinic Receptor Structure
8. Nicotine Activates Nicotinic ReceptorsDistribution
9. Exposure to nicotine leads to a short-lived (desensitization) or prolonged (inactivation) loss of function of the nAChR
Differs by receptor subtype
a4ß2 desensitizes rapidly
Some subtypes (e.g., a7) are much less affected Nicotine Activates Nicotinic Receptors Desensitization and Inactivation
10. Long term exposure to nicotine increases the number of nAChR
Differs by subtype
?4ß2 upregulated substantially
Some subtypes may not be affected
May be a response to desensitization Nicotine Activates Nicotinic Receptors Upregulation
11. Nicotine activates dopamine Lesions of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway dramatically reduce nicotine self-administration (Corrigall et al., 1992)
Nicotine administration increase dopamine overflow in the nucleus accumbens
However, the effects of nicotine on dopamine change with repeated exposure
Attenuation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell
Increase in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core
Other neurotransmitter systems (e.g., glutamate, GABA, NE, 5-HT) may also important
13. Why do people smoke? Nicotine
4000 non-nicotine constituents
Multiple environmental stimuli, including the sight, smell, and taste of cigarette smoke, the oropharyngeal consequences of smoking, and external contextual stimuli that are normally associated with the behavior
14. Smoking Stimuli Cues for smoking
Conditioned reinforcers
15. Smoking Stimuli Cynthia Conklin (personal communication) CONTEXTS
SMOKING
bus stop
restaurant
Bar
NON-SMOKING
church
gym
shower PROXIMAL
SMOKING
cigarette & ashtray
lighters
pack of cigarettes
NON-SMOKING
pen & pad
chapstick
bar of soap
19. Smoking Stimuli Exposure to smoking stimuli and/or the act of smoking may also serve as a trigger for subsequent smoking
20. Smoking Stimuli Experimental model of abstinence and relapse (Juliano et al., 2006)
Days 1-4: required abstinence ($80)
Day 4: random assignment
No smoking
Smoke nicotine-containing cigarettes
Smoke de-nicotinized cigarettes
Days 5-10: abstinence/relapse test
$12, $12, $9, $9, $6, $6
21. Smoking Stimuli
22. Smoking Stimuli Cues for smoking
Conditioned reinforcers
23. Unrestricted Smoking Cigarettes per day
25. Conclusions The biological and behavioral determinants of smoking are quite complex
Individual differences in these factors may help explain risk for use and/or dependence
Interventions should consider both pharmacological and behavioral influences if they are to be maximally effective