Explain, using one or more examples, the effects of neurotransmission on human behaviour

DOPAMINE = Responsible for motivation/reward. Important in addictive behaviour. Dopamine is released when doing a rewarding behaviour. Drugs increase dopamine levels. Can be environmental → seeing a pack of fags = associated with rewards. Nicotine = increase dopamine levels when smoking = causes addiction. BERRIDGE AND KINGELBACH. fMRI → see what brain areas are involved in pleasure = orbitofrontal lobe. Dopamine = involved in addictive behaviour = pleasure seeking

ACETYLCHOLINE = Linked to brain plasticity → important in learning/short term memory. MARTINEZ AND KESNER. Group 1 = given an injection to reduce Ach. Group 2 = given an injection to increase Ach. Group 3 = control group Rats ran a maze → see how long it takes them to get out. Group 1 = did the worst = made more mistakes. Group 2 = did best = made few mistakes. ACh affects memory as different levels affected how well the rats remembered the maze