One cigarette is enough to hook some smokers, study says
Researchers in Canada have found a region in the brains of rats that may be the key to these differences.
By manipulating specific molecular doorways into brain cells called receptors, they were able to control which rats in the study enjoyed their first exposure to nicotine and which were repelled by it.
They found specific receptors of the message-carrying chemical dopamine in the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens controlled whether the rats enjoyed or were repelled by nicotine.
When the researchers blocked two types of dopamine receptors -- D-1 and D-2 -- with drugs delivered to these areas of the nucleus accumbens, the rats experienced nicotine as a positive, rewarding experience.
The researchers also were able to reverse this process, making the nicotine unpleasant in rats that had the equivalent of a "pack-a-day" nicotine addiction."
Picture: http://flickr.com/photos/rougerouge/153602149/
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I'm a smoker and I think smoking is one of the most irrational things a human being can do. The first smoke is hardly a pleasant experience and yet some choose to light up a second cigarette, and a third, etc. So, in my opinion this study makes sense. What do you think?
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- recommended by:
- merasyad
- added August 06, 2008
- flag
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I don't believe that people get hooked from the first one. I think they get hooked on the idea of smoking first (whether it makes them cool, a good way to chill, whatever) and they have to train their bodies to adjust to the poison, get over how revolting it is, and come round to enjoying it for the original reasons for starting.
ps. wicked photo!!
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I only started smoking when I started going to youth club. Everyone there used to go in the 'smoking room' so I decided I wanted to go in as well. I used to spend my youth club money on a pack of 12 and a box of matches, thinking I was been a rebel not buying 2 cans of coke and mars bar.
I remember trying to enjoy the taste for the first few times, it was disgusting, but, like a trooper, I persevered. It certainly wasn't a first time hook-up for me.
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Free will is underrated.
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- rightbrain
- 5 months ago
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how is this news?
isnt that common knowledge?
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next theyll be reportorting that booze helps people get laid.
