The SEEKING Drive and Its Fixation: A Neuro-Psycho-Evolutionary Approach to the Pathology of Addiction

Abstract

Neuro-ethological studies conducted by Panksepp and his colleagues have provided an understanding of how the activity of the mesolimbic dopaminergic (ML DA) system leads to the emotional disposition to SEEK/Explore, which is involved in all appetitive motivated behavior and mental activity. In pathological addiction phenomena, this emotional disposition “fixes” itself on certain obsessive-compulsive habits, losing its versatility and its natural predisposition to spontaneous and unconditioned activation. Overall, the result is a consistent disinterest in everything that is not the object of addiction. From a neuro-psycho-evolutionary point of view, the predisposition to develop addictive behavior can be attributed to a loss of “functional autonomy” of the SEEKING/Explorative disposition. Indeed, as shown by animal and human studies, the tendency to be conditioned by situations and contexts that provide an immediate reward can be closely related to a deficit in the tonic endogenous activity of the ML DA-SEEKING system.

Interaction Effects of DRD2 Genetic Polymorphism and Interpersonal Stress on Problematic Gaming in College Students

“…Consistent with this model, our results demonstrate that a stressful environment interacts with DRD2 polymorphisms to increase vulnerability to problematic gaming. Our results also can be interpreted as the loss of functional autonomy of the mesolimbic dopamine-dependent seeking system [ 58 ]. Decreased dopaminergic function may elevate individuals’ emotional drive to seek addictive stimuli.…”

Flights and Perchings of the BrainMind: A Temporospatial Approach to Psychotherapy

“…There is a disconnect between weakened intrinsic exploration and impulsive functioning within the mind-brain. Panksepp solidifies research in support of this hypothesis, indicating patients with addictive disorders exhibit alterations during their resting-state brain activity with “intrinsic functional connectivity of medial cortical structures.” ( Alcaro et al, 2021 , p. 6).…”

“…For example, Panksepp identifies neuro-coordinates within the SEEKING system associated with anoetic states of consciousness within individuals who are suffering from addictive behaviors. This driven state is involved in all appetitive behaviors motivated in stimulation of mental activity ( Alcaro et al, 2021 ). Prior to the expansion into a noetic state of awareness, the anoetic state represents a disconnect between the self-concept in connection with the world around them or external experiences.…”

“…This area processes spatial routing and formation of abstract thinking which helps spatio-temporal and declarative memory, learning, and certain aspects of collective perception. Dysfunction within the SEEKING system is reasonably linked to addictive behavior when there is a disruption in the system’s exploration to “maintain spontaneous and unfocused attention” ( Alcaro et al, 2021 , p. 6). There is a disconnect between weakened intrinsic exploration and impulsive functioning within the mind-brain.…”

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Long-Term Smoking Cessation: Preliminary Examination of Delay Discounting as a Therapeutic Target and the Effects of Intensity and Duration

“…The frontolimbic balance outlined by the CNDS Model and its application to cigarette smoking, however, must be viewed as a general framework within the context of the multiple complex neurobiological, psychological, affective, environmental, socio-cultural, and evolutionary factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of dysfunctional human decision-making, a review of which is outside the scope of this manuscript ( Alcaro et al, 2021 ). For instance, the well-established role of classical and operant conditioning in decision-making is optimized by the mesolimbic dopaminergic (MS DA) system ( Robinson and Berridge, 2001 , 2003 , 2008 ; Salamone and Correa, 2002 ; Everitt and Robbins, 2005 ; Alcaro et al, 2007 ) and contributes significantly to the development and maintenance of the imbalance described by the CNDS Model.…”