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Full-Text Articles in Psychology
Role Of Sigma Receptors In Low-Dose Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Gilbert Marchant, Scott Steffensen
Role Of Sigma Receptors In Low-Dose Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Gilbert Marchant, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine (METH) is an addictive drug of abuse and METH use is a growing problem in the United States. The current dogma states that psychostimulants such as METH attack the mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system, leading to abnormally high DA release when drugs of abuse are taken (Volkow et al., 2004). A key target area of the mesocorticolimbic system is the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Specifically, DA release in the NAc has been associated with reward and motivation (Oleson et al. 2012).
Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species On Chronic Methamphetamine- Induced Dopamine Transmission In The Nucleus Accumbens, Devin Bradshaw, Scott Steffensen
Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species On Chronic Methamphetamine- Induced Dopamine Transmission In The Nucleus Accumbens, Devin Bradshaw, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive substance with many negative effects on the user. These effects include detriments to physical health such as “…extreme weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), and skin sores caused by scratching. Methamphetamine use also raises the risk of contracting infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis B and C.” (“DrugFacts: Methamphetamine”, 2014). Negative health effects like this come from long term abuse of methamphetamine due to addiction to the substance. Reducing the cause of the addictive behavior (dopamine (DA) overstimulation causing neuronal damage) can help to prevent these negative effects of METH abuse. As the effects …
Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Ekins, Scott Steffensen
Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In Methamphetamine Modulation Of Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Ekins, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is a problem that continues to cause much harm across the United States. The cost of METH use in 2005 alone was estimated to be 23.4 billion dollars (Nicosia et al., 2009). Other societal costs of METH abuse include suicide attempts, premature death, increased health care expenses, loss of workplace productivity, incarceration, child maltreatment, foster care, violent crime, and theft (Nicosia et al., 2009). Understanding the mechanism by which METH acts on the brain is the first step in being able to synthesize a pharmacotherapeutic method to treat METH addiction.
The Effects Of Trilostane And Dheas On Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Okelberry, Dr. Scott Steffensen
The Effects Of Trilostane And Dheas On Dopamine Release In The Nucleus Accumbens, Tyler Okelberry, Dr. Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Alcohol dependency is a serious, widespread problem in the United States. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported that “In 2009, the number of persons aged 12 or older needing treatment for an alcohol use problem was 19.3 million (7.7 percent of the population aged 12 or older).” 1 The following study contributed to a growing body of research about alcohol addiction and the brain. The study focused on a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens has been implicated in the mental processes of reward and …
Adaptation Of D2 Dopamine Receptors Following Acute Ethanol, Brian Behnke, Scott Steffensen
Adaptation Of D2 Dopamine Receptors Following Acute Ethanol, Brian Behnke, Scott Steffensen
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The purpose of my experiment was To study the effects that ethanol (EtOH) has on the D2 receptors (D2R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), in order to determine if D2 is a key contributor to an alcohol addictive state.