Reward deficiency syndrome: genetic aspects of behavioral disorders

• Published in: Progress in Brain Research Vol. 126; pp. 325 - 341
• Main Authors: Comings, David E., Blum, Kenneth
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Science & Technology 2000
• Subjects: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - genetics; Behavior, Addictive - genetics; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - physiology; Central Nervous System Stimulants - pharmacology; Compulsive Behavior - genetics; Dangerous Behavior; Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase - genetics; Exploratory Behavior; Genetic Heterogeneity; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Impulsive Behavior - genetics; Models, Neurological; Monoamine Oxidase - genetics; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Neurotransmitter Agents - physiology; Nucleus Accumbens - drug effects; Nucleus Accumbens - physiology; Opioid Peptides - genetics; Opioid Peptides - physiology; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects; Prefrontal Cortex - physiology; Receptors, Adrenergic - drug effects; Receptors, Adrenergic - genetics; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - drug effects; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - genetics; Receptors, Dopamine D2 - physiology; Receptors, Dopamine D4; Receptors, Drug - drug effects; Receptors, Drug - genetics; Receptors, Neurotransmitter - drug effects; Receptors, Neurotransmitter - genetics; Receptors, Neurotransmitter - physiology; Reward; Satiation - physiology; Self Stimulation - physiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - genetics; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology; Substance-Related Disorders - genetics; Tourette Syndrome - genetics; Tourette Syndrome - physiopathology
• ISBN: 9780444503329; 0444503323
• ISSN: 0079-6123; 1875-7855
• DOI: 10.1016/S0079-6123(00)26022-6

The dopaminergic and opiodergic reward pathways of the brain are critical for survival since they provide the pleasure drives for eating, love and reproduction; these are called ‘natural rewards’ and involve the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and frontal lobes. However, the same release of dopamine and production of sensations of pleasure can be produced by ‘unnatural rewards’ such as alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, nicotine, marijuana, and other drugs, and by compuslive activities such as gambling, eating, and sex, and by risk taking behaviors. Since only a minority of individuals become addicted to these compounds or behaviors, it is reasonable to ask what factors distinguish those who do become addicted from those who do not. It has usually been assumed that these behaviors are entirely voluntary and that environmental factors play the major role; however, since all of these behaviors have a significant genetic component, the presence of one or more variant genes presumably act as risk factors for these behaviors. Since the primary neurotransmitter of the reward pathway is dopamine, genes for dopamine synthesis, degradation, receptors, and transporters are reasonable candidates.