Psychobiology of Nicotine Addiction on the Brain

Nicotine mimics 6 of our Pleasure Chemicals that should naturally occur in our brains.  Sometimes we have a deficiency of one or more of the chemicals which leads to some of our behaviors, such as ________o-holic (workaholic, chocoholic, neat freak).  Certain activities and emotions provide us releases of the chemicals we need for pleasures like self soothing, satisfaction, concentration and motivation.  Nicotine, alcohol, man made uppers, downers and stimulants have a quicker acting and longer lasting effect than our own internal chemicals.  Actually, it is often more intense, like a rush from methamphetamine or cocaine which is a bigger dump than the body naturally releases from daily activities.

Our brains should be receiving the following chemicals which fit into the neuro-receptors that tell our body to react or feel pleasure or security appropriately. 

Dopamine is necessary for:

  • Concentration
  • Conversion of ideas into behaviors
  • Motivation to participate in activities
  • Natural Cocaine

Dopamine is released with all activities necessary for survival of the species

  • Eating
  • Sex

Stimulant use (other chemicals ingested by the person) causes a big release of dopamine called a “rush?

GABA is necessary for:

  • Self calming
  • Anti anxiety
  • Natural Valium
  • Prevents Mind Racing

Difficulties associated with GABA deficiency are:

  • Trouble going to sleep
  • Difficulty quieting down after emotional upset
  • May have epileptic condition

Children with Alcoholic ancestors often have low levels and are said to be set up from birth to use downers like alcohol, sleeping pills, valium

Norepinephrine is necessary to:

  • keep us alert and aroused
  • coordinate our response to fear(fight or flight)
  • Helps regulate our mood
  • Depletion causes major depression
  •  Too much causes agitation
  • Our levels are highest in the morning and fades throughout the day, so to keep a steady day going we need:
  • Protein for breakfast

Serotonin is necessary for

  • Reduces our alertness
  • Antidepressant
  • Natural Prozac
  • Levels of Serotonin evident in PMS a woman has a drop in serotonin just before her period which contributes to the symptoms of PMS
  • People with a sweet tooth may have a deficiency in serotonin and use sugars for calming effect

We need 30 minutes of sunlight each day so that our serotonin will convert to melatonin and then melatonin will cause sleep to occur

Chewing food, smiling, any jaw movement is associated with release of serotonin.

Endorphin is known for:

  • The morphine within (blocks or modulates pain) or the Natural Heroin  
  •  Internal Teddy Bear – self soothing
  • Numbing effect
  • Released during trauma
  • Released in bulimi

Deficiency indicates the following:

  • Possible generational alcoholic families (levels are baseline low in these persons)
  • Cannot self soothe
  • Will choose downers

Endorphin is not intended to stay in the body very long, Nicotine, Narcotics and Heroin stay longer – this causes a disorienting effect

Acetylcholine

  • Initiates Muscle movements
  • Necessary for memory development

If blocked, causes anticholinergic effects such as

  • Paralysis
  • Blurred Vision
  • Dry Mouth
  • Can’t Sweat
  • Memory irregularity
  • Has been identified as deficient in Alzheimer’s Disease patients

This is the first Neurotransmitter that is impacted by NICOTINE.  Then there is a cascade effect resulting in all the other 5 being affected as well.

References: 

  1.  “Buzzed? by Kuhn, Swartzwelder, & Wilson.
  2.  “Uppers, Downers, All Arounders? by Inaba & Cohen
  3.  www.cdc.org “Center for Disease Control