A psychomotor stimulant theory of addiction.
Abstract
The theory is advanced that the common denominator fa wide range of addictive substances i their ability to cause psychomotor activation. This view is related to the theory that all positive reinforcers activate acommon biological mechanism associated with approach behaviors and that this mechanism has as one of its components dopaminergic f bers that project up the medial fore-brain bundle from the midbrain to limbic and cortical regions. Evidence is reviewed that links both the reinforcing and locomotor-stimulating effects of both the psychomotor stimulants and the opiates to this brain mechanism. It is suggested that nicotine, caffeine, barbiturates, alcohol, benzodiaz-epines, cannabis, and phencyclidine----each ofwhich also has psychomotor stimulant actions--may activate the docaminergic f bers or their output circuitry. The role of physical dependence in addic-tion is suggested tovary from drug to drug and to be of secondary importance inthe understanding of compulsive drug self-administration. Attempts at a general theory of addiction are attempts to isr late--from a variety of irrelevant actionsmthose drug actions that are responsible for habitual, compulsive, nonmedical drug self-administration. The common assumption of addiction the-orists is that general principles of addiction can be learned from the study of one drug and that these principles will have heuris-tic value for the study of other drugs. Thus far, attempts at a general theory of addiction have failed to isolate common ac-tions that can account for addiction across the range of major drug classes. A major stumbling block has been the psychomo-tor stimulants--amphetamine a d cocainemwhich do not readily fit models traditionally based on depressant drug classes. The present article offers a new attempt at a general theory of addiction. It differs from earlier theories (e.g., Collier,
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By this criterion, alcohol and heroin would clearly qualify whereas cocaine, gambling and sex typically would not.
“By this criterion, alcohol and heroin would clearly qualify whereas cocaine, gambling and sex typically would not (Wise and Bozarth, 1987).”
From A motivation model of sex addiction – Relevance to the controversy over the concept (2022) · cites this paper as Wise and Bozarth, 1987
The crucial mechanism for the development of addiction is drug-induced activation of DA transmission in the mesolimbic pathway (the 'dopamine hypothesis of addiction').
“It has been proposed that the crucial mechanism for the development of addiction is drug-induced activation of DA transmission in the mesolimbic pathway, also referred to as the ‘dopamine hypothesis of addiction’ [121-123].”
From Reward circuitry dysfunction in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic syndromes: animal models and clinical findings (2012) · cites this paper as [123]
The same is believed to be true for a wide range of addictive substances including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, and phencyclidine.
“The same is believed to be true for a wide range of addictive substances including alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, and phencyclidine (Di Chiara & Imperato, 1988; Wise & Bozarth, 1987).”
From Cued for Risk: Evidence for an Incentive Sensitization Framework to Explain the Interplay between Stress and Anxiety, Substance Abuse, and Reward Uncertainty in Disordered Gambling Behavior (2019) · cites this paper as Wise & Bozarth, 1987
Sensitization theory asserts that greater stimulant effects over time underlie addictive processes.
“In contrast, the sensitization theory asserts that greater stimulant effects over time underlie addictive processes(9), based on rodent data showing that stimulant-like and locomotor alcohol responses increase after repeated exposures(10, 11).”
From A Prospective 5-Year Re-examination of Alcohol Response in Heavy Drinkers Progressing in Alcohol Use Disorder (2016) · cites this paper as [9]
The meso-limbic dopamine system that projects from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens has been implicated in the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse.
“The meso-limbic dopamine system that projects from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens has been implicated in the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse”
From Dopamine reward circuitry: Two projection systems from the ventral midbrain to the nucleus accumbens–olfactory tubercle complex (2007) · cites this paper as Wise and Bozarth, 1987
Rewarding effects of such disparate drugs as cocaine, nicotine, heroin, alcohol and cannabis have been suggested to be mediated by a common circuitry.
“Rewarding effects of such disparate drugs as cocaine, nicotine, heroin, alcohol and cannabis have been suggested to be mediated by a common circuitry”
From Dopamine reward circuitry: Two projection systems from the ventral midbrain to the nucleus accumbens–olfactory tubercle complex (2007) · cites this paper as Wise and Bozarth, 1987
Drug administration that is rewarding as assessed by instrumental tasks should elicit heightened locomotion.
“Therefore, as Wise and Bozarth (1987) suggested, drug administration that is rewarding as assessed by instrumental tasks should elicit heightened locomotion.”
From Dopamine reward circuitry: Two projection systems from the ventral midbrain to the nucleus accumbens–olfactory tubercle complex (2007) · cites this paper as Wise and Bozarth (1987)
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References 306 · Cited by 2,747
- Authors
- Wise, R. A., & Bozarth, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Concordia University (CA)
- ORCID
- Wise, Roy A.
- Venue
- Psychological Review
- Published
- 1987
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 469-492
- ISSN
- 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1471
- OpenAlex
- W2122592499
- Cited by
- 2,747
- References
- 306
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 89 · 2013: 84 · 2012: 83
- FWCI
- 15.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Keywords
- addiction theory, psychostimulants, dopaminergic pathways, medial forebrain bundle, approach behavior, positive reinforcement, locomotor stimulation, opiates, nicotine, caffeine, barbiturates, alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, phencyclidine, amphetamine, cocaine, physical dependence
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arousal, Humans, Opioid-Related Disorders, Psychomotor Performance, Substance-Related Disorders
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