Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘N’ Roll: Hypothesizing Common Mesolimbic Activation as a Function of Reward Gene Polymorphisms

Abstract

The nucleus accumbens, a site within the ventral striatum, plays a prominent role in mediating the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse, food, sex, and other addictions. Indeed, it is generally believed that this structure mandates motivated behaviors such as eating, drinking, and sexual activity, which are elicited by natural rewards and other strong incentive stimuli. This article focuses on sex addiction, but we hypothesize that there is a common underlying mechanism of action for the powerful effects that all addictions have on human motivation. That is, biological drives may have common molecular genetic antecedents, which if impaired, lead to aberrant behaviors. Based on abundant scientific support, we further hypothesize that dopaminergic genes, and possibly other candidate neurotransmitter-related gene polymorphisms, affect both hedonic and anhedonic behavioral outcomes. Genotyping studies already have linked gene polymorphic associations with alcohol and drug addictions and obesity, and we anticipate that future genotyping studies of sex addicts will provide evidence for polymorphic associations with specific clustering of sexual typologies based on clinical instrument assessments. We recommend that scientists and clinicians embark on research coupling the use of neuroimaging tools with dopaminergic agonistic agents to target specific gene polymorphisms systematically for normalizing hyper- or hypo-sexual behaviors.

Amphetamines: Potent Recreational Drug of Abuse

“…Therefore, ΔFosB is considered as one of the most significant factors found to be involved in both addiction of amphetamine and compulsive sex addictions induced by amphetamine [76,77]. These sex addictions are linked with a dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) which arises in some patients who are taking dopaminergic drugs [78]. Dose and route of administration largely determine the amphetamine effects on the regulation of gene.…”

Integrating the Science of Addiction and the Science of Wellbeing

“…More than four decades of research have led to the creation of new theory, Reward Deficiency Syndrome [22][23][24][25]. RDS is thought to be the root cause, or kitchen sink of neurological disorder, for a spectrum of dopamine related deficiency disorders ranging from Alzheimer, Asperger, Autism, Addiction, Depression, ImpulsiveCompulsive Disorder and Parkinson's [22,26].…”

Sexual addiction in drug addicts: The impact of drug of choice and poly-addiction

“…6 There is also growing evidence on a common etiologic basis for the reinforcement effect of drugs and sex, with studies supporting the contribution of the same neurophysiological structures and similar patterns of neuroplasticity over time. 7,8 Furthermore, many therapeutic approaches for sexual addiction incorporate elements of addiction-based treatments such as relapse prevention-focused psychotherapy and mutual-help programs with a 12-step format. 9 Previous reports also suggested that topiramate and naltrexone, medications used for the treatment of some types of substance addiction, may have a therapeutic effect in sexually addicted patients.…”