PSYC FPX 4310 Assessment 1 Neurobiology of Alcohol Abuse PSYC FPX 4310 Biological Psychology

 

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Neurobiology of alcohol abuse

Alcohol is a substance that induces euphoria, reduces anxiety, provides sedation, impairs motor coordination, and affects cognitive functions. It is the oldest known drug of abuse (Garrett & Hough, 2017). Historically, alcohol played a significant cultural role and was integral to various socially sanctioned activities. However, in contemporary times, the controlled social consumption of alcohol has given way to widespread individual abuse. This paper aims to review several scholarly articles on alcohol abuse and summarize key components from these articles.

The Capella library database was utilized to locate relevant articles, using the following search criteria: peer-reviewed, journal articles published after July 17, 2012, with the search terms (Neurobiology) AND (Alcohol abuse). The search was conducted across various databases, given that research on alcohol abuse spans multiple scholarly disciplines.

Article Review

In the following sections, five academic articles will be reviewed and analyzed. The analysis will focus on: 1) the research methods employed in each article, 2) variables related to the hypothesis or alcohol abuse in general, 3) an assessment of how the hypothesis was supported or not and whether the research questions were answered, and 4) a determination and explanation of whether the study was conducted safely and ethically by the authors. This review and analysis will not include any personal opinions or additional interpretations beyond what was reported in the articles.

A mechanism linking two known vulnerability factors for alcohol abuse: Heightened alcohol stimulation and low striatal dopamine D2 receptors (Bocarsly et al., 2019).

This article proposes a connection between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the reduced expression of striatal dopamine D2 receptors (D2Rs). The research methodology first demonstrates a link between striatal D2Rs and the stimulant effects of ethanol, highlighting the critical role of D2Rs expressed on medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in generating vulnerability. The study offers direct evidence of a mechanism that drives a preference for ethanol and an escalation in drinking. The results were validated using mouse models to study alcohol’s stimulant effects. Finally, the authors show that pre-existing low levels of striatal D2Rs in select cell types are sufficient to modulate ethanol stimulation and alcohol drinking behavior.

The key variables in the study are stimulant and sedative response levels to alcohol and the expression of striatal dopamine D2 in the system.

The study supported the authors’ hypothesis by validating a link between low striatal D2R availability and high sensitivity to the stimulatory effects of ethanol. The study also established that striatal D1R hypersensitivity is the substrate linking these vulnerability factors.

The study was conducted safely and ethically using mice for biological testing.

The neurotransmitters involved in Drosophila alcohol-induced behaviors (Chvilicek et al., 2020).

This article examines the neurobiology of alcohol responses using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) to trace the mechanisms of alcohol action and subsequent effects on behavior. The authors review recent progress in understanding the contribution of seven neurotransmitters to fly behavior, focusing on their roles in alcohol response: dopamine, octopamine, tyramine, serotonin, glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine.

The key variables include the availability and relevance of current research on the seven neurotransmitters involved in fly behavior combined with alcohol.

Current research demonstrates that alcohol impacts the Drosophila DAergic system, linking many DA-related behaviors to alcohol. Alcohol influences several DA-mediated behaviors in Drosophila, such as locomotion, sedation, and reward.

This study was conducted safely and ethically as it only reviewed other current academic papers on this topic and did not conduct any actual experimentation.Molecular neurobiology of addiction: What’s all the (δ)FosB about? (Ruffle, 2014).This article examines research indicating the molecular changes that accompany addiction. The authors reviewed 126 academic research sources to compile their findings.The key variables were the availability and reliability of the research documentation and the authors’ evaluation of the available research.

The research findings support the authors’ hypothesis that the transcription factor (δ)FosB and associated molecular changes play a significant role in alcohol addiction. (δ)FosB is upregulated in various brain regions following repeated drug exposure and is likely partially responsible for the mechanisms underlying addiction. The gene