Study Guide Exam 2
Page 1
reinforcer and punishment
o a reinforcer is designed to increase behavior
beeping stops after putting seat belt on increases use of seat belt
o a punisher is usually used to decrease behavior
a kid will stop being bad because they got their toys taken away as
a punishment
“Your Brain on Drugs”: Dr. Volkow’s positions
o drugs affect the brains chemical transmitters
o Why do some drugs make you feel so good, until they leave you feeling
really bad?
drugs create pleasure because dopamine is raised; brain is shifted
on the threshold; initially taking the drug for pleasure, now take it
to feel normal
o Do different people have different levels of dopamine in their brains and is
this why some are more prone to addiction that others?
yes
age- as you age, dopamine system decreases
genetics
frequency of use
environmental factors
o What are some of the drugs that act on the dopamine system?
all of the drugs humans abuse raise dopamine levels but by
differing mechanisms; some medications do as well and there are
three classifications
opioids-pain medications
stimulants
sedative hypnotics, common for sleep disorders
o What are the toxic effects of cocaine?
vasoconstriction can deprive the brain of oxygen
increases calcium in the cells which is toxic
o Are these toxic effects reversible?
depends on extent: very small damage you can recover completely,
otherwise permanent damage
o What does it mean that addiction corrupts brain networks?
repeated use changes networks in the brain responsible for
judgment and memory
o Knowing what we know about addiction, how should we as a society deal
with it?
cultural misguided assumption: drug addiction is a lifestyle choice
addiction is not a choice
you start with experimentational; then only those pre-
disposed end up living with the negative, addictive property
Page 2
o Is marijuana a gateway drug?
not necessarily, it may be better to consider nicotine as you are
more likely to be exposed to it prior to marijuana
o How addictive is nicotine?
as a chemical measure, nicotine is probably with alcohol in that it
raises dopamine the least
o How effective are the scare campaigns for deterring teenagers?
f th b t i t k th d l t th t th d t
, Page 2
o Is marijuana a gateway drug?
not necessarily, it may be better to consider nicotine as you are
more likely to be exposed to it prior to marijuana
o How addictive is nicotine?
as a chemical measure, nicotine is probably with alcohol in that it
raises dopamine the least
o How effective are the scare campaigns for deterring teenagers?
one of the best is to make the adolescent aware that others do not
approve; need to understand long-term consequences
o Many addicts avoid treatment because of stigma. What do you think?
stigma, shame, and judgments work against treatment; even though
we have good, medical treatments, we know that 83% of those in
need will NOT seek help
o Is food an addictive substance?
It’s similar, however, one key difference is that we absolutely must
have food to survive, but not the same for drugs
so there are many mechanisms for food, one of which is the
pleasure circuits that is shared with drugs
seeing food increased dopamine levels
o What is your opinion of medical use of marijuana?
stimulates the cannabinoid receptors, so you can create
medications that activate those receptors
the problem with marijuana, you are taking many
chemicals that have undesirable effects
o interesting personal story:
related to leon trosky, the famous russion revolutionary who was
exiled for his opposition to stalin’s brutal, oppressive policies
taking root in that early/middle 20th century
Mexican national
awesome scientist
shaping in operant conditioning
o B.F. Skinner
o consequences lead to changes in voluntary behavior
o animal tricks, crime and punishment, studying and grades, taking aspirin
to relieve a headache, saying “please” etc.
o giving a child a reward for having good behavior, eventually they will
learn to have good behavior with no reward
schedules of reinforcement & examples
o continuous reinforcement
giving a rat food when pushing a lever each time
quickest way to teach someone a behavior
o patrial reinforcement
doesn’t get a reward every time
fixed interval: delivered at predictable time intervals
variable interval: delivered at unpredictable time intervals
Page 3
fixed ration: delivered after a predictable number of responses
variable ration: delivered after an unpredictable number of
responses
“Most dangerous drug…”: Which is the most dangerous?
o alcohol, due to its harm to others
it directly causes a plethora of diseases, from cardiovascular and
neurological disorders to liver degeneration; it indirectly causes
transportation accidents increases promiscuous activities and thus
Page 1
reinforcer and punishment
o a reinforcer is designed to increase behavior
beeping stops after putting seat belt on increases use of seat belt
o a punisher is usually used to decrease behavior
a kid will stop being bad because they got their toys taken away as
a punishment
“Your Brain on Drugs”: Dr. Volkow’s positions
o drugs affect the brains chemical transmitters
o Why do some drugs make you feel so good, until they leave you feeling
really bad?
drugs create pleasure because dopamine is raised; brain is shifted
on the threshold; initially taking the drug for pleasure, now take it
to feel normal
o Do different people have different levels of dopamine in their brains and is
this why some are more prone to addiction that others?
yes
age- as you age, dopamine system decreases
genetics
frequency of use
environmental factors
o What are some of the drugs that act on the dopamine system?
all of the drugs humans abuse raise dopamine levels but by
differing mechanisms; some medications do as well and there are
three classifications
opioids-pain medications
stimulants
sedative hypnotics, common for sleep disorders
o What are the toxic effects of cocaine?
vasoconstriction can deprive the brain of oxygen
increases calcium in the cells which is toxic
o Are these toxic effects reversible?
depends on extent: very small damage you can recover completely,
otherwise permanent damage
o What does it mean that addiction corrupts brain networks?
repeated use changes networks in the brain responsible for
judgment and memory
o Knowing what we know about addiction, how should we as a society deal
with it?
cultural misguided assumption: drug addiction is a lifestyle choice
addiction is not a choice
you start with experimentational; then only those pre-
disposed end up living with the negative, addictive property
Page 2
o Is marijuana a gateway drug?
not necessarily, it may be better to consider nicotine as you are
more likely to be exposed to it prior to marijuana
o How addictive is nicotine?
as a chemical measure, nicotine is probably with alcohol in that it
raises dopamine the least
o How effective are the scare campaigns for deterring teenagers?
f th b t i t k th d l t th t th d t
, Page 2
o Is marijuana a gateway drug?
not necessarily, it may be better to consider nicotine as you are
more likely to be exposed to it prior to marijuana
o How addictive is nicotine?
as a chemical measure, nicotine is probably with alcohol in that it
raises dopamine the least
o How effective are the scare campaigns for deterring teenagers?
one of the best is to make the adolescent aware that others do not
approve; need to understand long-term consequences
o Many addicts avoid treatment because of stigma. What do you think?
stigma, shame, and judgments work against treatment; even though
we have good, medical treatments, we know that 83% of those in
need will NOT seek help
o Is food an addictive substance?
It’s similar, however, one key difference is that we absolutely must
have food to survive, but not the same for drugs
so there are many mechanisms for food, one of which is the
pleasure circuits that is shared with drugs
seeing food increased dopamine levels
o What is your opinion of medical use of marijuana?
stimulates the cannabinoid receptors, so you can create
medications that activate those receptors
the problem with marijuana, you are taking many
chemicals that have undesirable effects
o interesting personal story:
related to leon trosky, the famous russion revolutionary who was
exiled for his opposition to stalin’s brutal, oppressive policies
taking root in that early/middle 20th century
Mexican national
awesome scientist
shaping in operant conditioning
o B.F. Skinner
o consequences lead to changes in voluntary behavior
o animal tricks, crime and punishment, studying and grades, taking aspirin
to relieve a headache, saying “please” etc.
o giving a child a reward for having good behavior, eventually they will
learn to have good behavior with no reward
schedules of reinforcement & examples
o continuous reinforcement
giving a rat food when pushing a lever each time
quickest way to teach someone a behavior
o patrial reinforcement
doesn’t get a reward every time
fixed interval: delivered at predictable time intervals
variable interval: delivered at unpredictable time intervals
Page 3
fixed ration: delivered after a predictable number of responses
variable ration: delivered after an unpredictable number of
responses
“Most dangerous drug…”: Which is the most dangerous?
o alcohol, due to its harm to others
it directly causes a plethora of diseases, from cardiovascular and
neurological disorders to liver degeneration; it indirectly causes
transportation accidents increases promiscuous activities and thus
