Serotonin-Dopamine Antagonists in the Treatment of Stuttering

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Re: Drinking, and Smoking increases dopamine level, and fluency!

From: Nathan Lavid, M.D.
Date: 03 Oct 2005
Time: 22:09:22 -0500
Remote Name: 71.107.205.117

Comments

Hello Albert, This is an interesting question. Regarding alcohol, I can derive two explanations. One, the intoxicated stutterer may believe to be speaking fluently when in fact the fluency is a misperception facilitated by alcohol. Two, alcohol in moderation is an anxiolytic, which can alleviate the anticipatory anxiety associated with stuttering and increase fluency. As for the increase in dopamine associated with alcohol and nicotine, this increase is noted in the nucleus accumbens. The nucleus accumbens mediates the pleasurable feeling when one engages in pleasurable actives. Alcohol and nicotine, as well as other drugs of abuse, also increase dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which is one of reinforcing aspects of addiction. The nucleus accumbens has no role in areas of the brain involved in speech and hence the lack of stuttering speech when one smokes, drinks, has sex or a satisfying meal.


Last changed: 10/24/05