Addiction Memory as a Specific, Individually Learned Memory Imprint

Abstract

The construct of “addiction memory” (AM) and its importance for relapse occurrence has been the subject of discussion for the past 30 years. Neurobiological findings from “social neuroscience” and biopsychological learning theory, in conjunction with construct-valid behavioral pharmacological animal models, can now also provide general confirmation of addiction memory as a pathomorphological correlate of addiction disorders. Under multifactorial influences, experience-driven neuronal learning and memory processes of emotional and cognitive processing patterns in the specific individual “set” and “setting” play an especially pivotal role in this connection. From a neuropsychological perspective, the episodic (biographical) memory, located at the highest hierarchical level, is of central importance for the formation of the AM in certain structural and functional areas of the brain and neuronal networks. Within this context, neuronal learning and conditioning processes take place more or less unconsciously and automatically in the preceding long-term-memory systems (in particular priming and perceptual memory). They then regulate the individually programmed addiction behavior implicitly and thus subsequently stand for facilitated recollection of corresponding, previously stored cues or context situations. This explains why it is so difficult to treat an addiction memory, which is embedded above all in the episodic memory, from the molecular carrier level via the neuronal pattern level through to the psychological meaning level, and has thus meanwhile become a component of personality.

References

• 1 Böning J. Warum muß es ein „Suchtgedächtnis” geben? Klinische Empirie and neurobiologische Argumente.  Sucht. 1994;  40 244-252
• 2 Böning J. Neurobiology of an addiction memory.  J Neural Transm. 2001;  108 755-765
• 3 Böning J, Grüsser-Sinopoli S. Neurobiologie der Glücksspielsucht. In: Batthyany D, Pritz A, Hrsg. Rausch ohne Drogen. Springer, Wien 2009 S119 S139
• 4 Cacioppo JT, Bernston GG, Adolphs R. et al .Foundations in social neuroscience. MIT Press, Cambridge 2002
• 5 Goltz von der C, Kiefer F. Bedeutung von Lernen and Gedächtnis in der Pathogenese von Suchterkrankungen.  Nervenarzt. 2008;  79 1006-1016
• 6 Heyne A, May T, Goll P. et al . Persisting consequences of drug intake – towards a memory of addiction.  J Neural Transm. 2000;  107 613-638
• 7 Hyman St. Addiction: a disease of learning and memory.  Am J Psychiatry. 2005;  162 1414-1422
• 8 Kauer JA, Malenka RC. Synaptic plasticity and addiction.  Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007;  8 844-858
• 9 Kelley AE. Memory and addiction: shared neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms.  Neuron. 2004;  44 161-179
• 10 Ledoux JE. Das Gedächtnis für Angst.  Spektrum der Wissenschaft. 1999;  S 16-23
• 11 Leshner A. Addiction is a brain disease, and it matters.  Science. 1997;  278 45-47
• 12 Markowitsch HJ. Autobiographical memory: a biocultural relais between subject and environment.  Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2008;  258 ((Suppl 5)) 98-103
• 13 Nestler EJ. Is there a common molecular pathway for addiction?.  Nat Neurosci. 2005;  8 1445-1449
• 14 O`Brien CP, Childress AR, MacLellan AT. et al .A learning model of addiction. In: O`Brien CP, Jaffe JH, eds. Addictive states. Raven Press, New York 1992: 157-177
• 15 Roth G. Persönlichkeit Entscheidung and Verhalten. Warum es so schwierig ist sich and andere zu verändern. Klett – Cotta, Stuttgart 2007
• 16 Sandkühler J. Learning and memory in pain pathways.  Pain. 2000;  88 113-118
• 17 Schrappe O. Abhängigkeit – Symtom oder Krankheit?. In: Keup W, Hrsg. Sucht als Symptom. Thieme, Stuttgart 1978 S29 S37
• 18 Tretter F. Ökologie der Sucht. Hogrefe, Göttingen 1998
• 19 Vohs KD, Schooler JW. The value of believing in free will.  Psychol Science. 2008;  19 49-54
• 20 Wolffgramm J, Heyne A. From controlled intake to loss of control: the irreversible development of drug addiction in the rat.  Behav Brain Res. 1995;  70 77-94

Correspondence