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Study Shows Similarity Between Opiate and Nicotine Addiction
The effects of nicotine and opiates on the brain’s reward system are both equally strong and occur in central pleasure sensing portions of the brain (nucleus accumbens).
By looking at rat brain tissues, a remarkable overlap occurs between the effects of nicotine and opiates in dopamine signaling pathways in the brain’s pleasure and reward centers.the control of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter in reward and addiction. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter chemical that is associated with rewarding experiences. It is released in areas of the brain such as the nucleus accumbens by pleasurable experiences such as eating food, sex, some drugs, and the neutral stimuli that are associated with them.
This research is significant because it shows that the nicotine and opiates work in the brain in similar ways. Researchers think that this information could help to identify effective new methods for treating numerous types of addictions. It also shows how strong tobacco (nicotine) addiction can be in the brain. Nicotine and opiate addictions are physiological in nature linked to pleasure centers and breaking them is a complicated matter that will require an in depth knowledge of brain function.
from:http://healthblaster.com/?p=47
