Dr. Maria Rita D’Orsogna, Department of Mathematics; California State University, Northridge
Abstract: We propose a mathematical model that unifies the psychiatric concepts of drug-induced incentive salience (IST), reward prediction error (RPE) and opponent process theory (OPT) to describe the emergence of addiction within substance abuse. The biphasic reward response (initially positive, then negative) of the OPT is activated by a drug-induced dopamine release, and evolves according to neuro-adaptative brain processes. Successive drug intakes enhance the negative component of the reward response, which the user compensates for by increasing the drug dose. Further neuroadaptive processes ensue, creating a positive feedback between physiological changes and user-controlled drug intake. Our drug response model can give rise to qualitatively different pathways for an initially naive user to become fully addicted. The path to addiction is represented by trajectories in parameter space that depend on the RPE, drug intake, and neuroadaptive changes. We will discuss how our model can be used to guide detoxification protocols using auxiliary substances such as methadone, to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.
Bio: Dr. Maria Rita D’Orsogna is a professor in Mathematics Department of California State University at Northridge and adjunct professor in Computational Medicine at UCLA. She is also Associate Director of Institute of Pure and Applied Math at UCLA. Dr. D’Orsogna got her PhD in Physics from UCLA. After that, she was a postdoctoral scholar in Chemical Engineering Department at Caltech and Mathematics Department at UCLA. Her research focuses on quantitative modeling, data analysis, numerical simulation of biological, psychological and social systems.
https://ucr.zoom.us/s/95408873063
Meeting ID: 954 0887 3063
Password: 638902