The brain-behavior theories of addiction covered in this session were interesting to learn about. Filbey (2019) discusses the following models in the text: the incentive-sensitization theory, the allostasis theory, the iRISA model, and the cue-elicited craving model. The incentive-sensitization theory focuses on the brains increasing sensitivity to drug-related cues, making the cues more motivating than the drug or substance itself. The allostasis theory discusses disruptions in homeostasis and how the brain adapts to chronic drug use, seemingly shifting the motivation from seeking pleasure to avoiding withdrawal. The iRISA model emphasizes the impairment of cognitive control by addiction, as well as addictions function in increasing the salience of drug-related cues, making the challenge of resisting cravings all the more difficult. Finally, the cue-elicited craving model highlights the associative learning between environmental cues and drug use, postulating that cravings and relapse are triggered by cues linked to the drug experience. In this final model, it seems as though emotion, memory, and motivation are cognitive processes involved in establishing the learned association between the substance and its salient environmental cues (p.40, Filbey, 2019). The text discusses incentive salience when differentiating between wanting and liking a drug. Filbey (p. 35, 2019) describes incentive salience as a reward-based motivational state driven by a strong, subconscious association between the drug and the feelings of reward, thereby resulting in pathological motivation for drugs, and refers to this as compulsive wanting as opposed to liking. Additionally, there are different pathways involved in the wanting motivation (dopamine and glutamate in corticolimbic areas) compared to the liking motivation (dopaminergic, GABAergic, endocannabinoid and opioid signaling associated with dorsal striatum) (Filbey, 2019). In short, different neurotransmitters activating in different parts of the brain can likely be viewed through current technology and determine if someone wants a drug or likes a drug.
Do you agree or disagress with the discussion post? Why?