NEUROSCIENCE OF ALCOHOL DEPENDANCE? AFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON BRAIN AND MENTAL HEALTH #1

NEUROBIOLOGY OF ALCOHOL DEPENDANCE?

Alcohol dependance in mainly caused to the increased dopaminergic activities in the mesolimbic pathway.Mesolimbic pathway involves dopaminergic transmission from the Ventral tegmental area(VTA) to nucleus accumbens.This pathway is involved in reward,pleasure etc.When you do pleasurable activities this pathway stimulates dopamine release and gives you reward.

When you take alcohol the above pathway is stimulated and gives you pleasure and to get that pleasure you try to drink alcohol everyday.But after chronic use tolerance develop to alcohol,so that you need more amount of alcohol to get the same pleasure and then cycle moves on...