The Science of Addiction and The Brain
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into the science of addiction, revealing how it rewires the brain's reward system, leading to compulsive behaviors. It explains the historical misconceptions and modern understanding of addiction as a neurological condition. The script outlines the role of dopamine in creating intense pleasure, the brain's adaptation to chronic stimulation, and the genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influencing addiction susceptibility. It emphasizes the importance of intervention, especially in adolescents, to prevent lifelong struggles with addiction.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Addiction is a global, humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people worldwide.
- 🧠 Scientists began seriously studying addictive behaviors in the 1930s, shifting away from the belief that addiction is due to moral flaws or lack of willpower.
- 💡 Behavioral changes linked to addiction are directly connected to changes within the brain.
- 🔍 Addiction is defined by the NHS as lacking control over doing, taking, or using something harmful, and it extends beyond drug abuse to include gambling, sex, and work.
- 🧬 Innovative brain imaging techniques have shown that addiction changes brain structure and alters how the brain processes information.
- ⚙️ The brain's reward pathway, involving dopamine, reinforces behaviors beneficial for survival by rewarding actions that ensure our well-being.
- 💊 Addictive substances or behaviors flood the brain's reward system with excessive dopamine, creating intensely pleasurable sensations that motivate repeated behavior.
- 🔄 Over time, the brain adapts to chronic dopamine elevation by reducing receptors and dopamine release, leading to tolerance and altered pleasure responses.
- 🧩 Addiction results from a combination of genetics, environment, and development, with genetics accounting for up to 75% of addiction likelihood.
- 🌱 Early drug use increases the risk of addiction, particularly because the prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and decision-making, is not fully developed until the mid-20s.
Q & A
What is the current global perspective on addiction?
-Addiction is viewed as a global, humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people worldwide and is one of the most stigmatized conditions.
When did scientists begin to seriously study addictive behaviors?
-Scientists started to seriously study addictive behaviors in the 1930s.
What was the common assumption about people with addictions before the 1930s?
-Before the 1930s, it was widely assumed that people with addictions were morally flawed or lacked the willpower and mental strength to overcome their problems.
How does addiction affect an individual's behavior and brain structure?
-Addiction can cause out-of-character behavioral changes that are directly linked to changes within the brain itself, including alterations in brain structure that affect how the brain processes information.
What is the definition of addiction according to the NHS?
-According to the NHS, addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking, or using something in a way that could be harmful to you.
What is the primary function of the brain's reward pathway?
-The reward pathway's primary function is to reinforce sets of behaviors that are useful for survival by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that signals satisfaction and encourages repetition of the behavior.
How does the misuse of substances or behaviors impact the brain's reward system?
-The misuse of substances or behaviors can flood the reward system with dopamine levels much higher than natural rewards, leading to intense euphoric and pleasurable sensations that motivate repeated seeking of the substance or behavior.
What happens to the brain's reward system when it is subjected to chronically elevated levels of dopamine?
-The brain adapts to chronically elevated levels of dopamine by reducing the number of receptors that respond to dopamine signals and by inserting channels to remove dopamine from the circuit, leading to reduced dopamine release and pleasure.
How does addiction affect areas of the brain involved in decision making and memory?
-Addiction can cause physical changes in brain regions involved in decision making, judgment, and memory, with some areas having neurons added and others dying away, making drug-seeking behavior more habitual and less conscious.
What are the three main factors that contribute to the development of addiction?
-The three main factors contributing to the development of addiction are genetics, environment, and development, with genetics accounting for up to 75% of the likelihood of developing addiction.
Why is intervention in adolescents particularly important in preventing lifelong addiction problems?
-Intervention in adolescents is important because their brains are still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex responsible for reasoning and decision making, and they are naturally inclined to take risks and make poor decisions, including trying drugs.
Outlines
🧠 The Neurological Aspects of Addiction
This paragraph delves into the science of addiction, explaining it as a global crisis with deep neurological implications. Historically, addiction was misunderstood as a moral failing, but modern studies have shown it to be a complex neurological disorder. The script outlines how addiction affects behavior and brain structure, introducing the concept of the reward pathway and its role in reinforcing behaviors through dopamine release. It also discusses how substance abuse and other addictive behaviors can overstimulate this pathway, leading to changes in brain function and an increased drive for the addictive substance. The paragraph concludes by highlighting how the brain adapts to chronic dopamine elevation by reducing receptor sensitivity, which can lead to tolerance and intensified seeking behaviors.
🧬 Genetics, Environment, and Development in Addiction
The second paragraph explores the factors contributing to the development of addiction, focusing on genetics, environment, and developmental stages. It emphasizes that genetics play a significant role, with up to 75% of the likelihood of addiction being heritable. The paragraph also discusses how an individual's social environment can influence the rewiring of the reward system, suggesting that those lacking social stimulation may be more prone to seek addictive activities. Additionally, it highlights the importance of developmental timing, noting that the younger the age of first drug exposure, the higher the risk of addiction. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, is still maturing during adolescence, which may explain why early exposure to drugs can be particularly harmful. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the complexity of addiction and the importance of understanding these factors to address the issue effectively.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Addiction
💡Neurologically
💡Reward Pathway
💡Dopamine
💡Tolerance
💡Genetics
💡Social Environment
💡Development
💡Prefrontal Cortex
💡Habit
💡Euphoric
Highlights
Addiction is described as a global humanitarian crisis affecting millions and is one of the most stigmatized conditions.
Scientists began studying addictive behaviors seriously in the 1930s, shifting from moral judgments to neurological understanding.
Addiction leads to out-of-character behavioral changes linked to brain alterations.
NHS defines addiction as a lack of control over harmful behaviors, not limited to drug abuse.
Brain imaging techniques have shown that addiction changes brain structure and function.
The reward pathway in the brain, also known as the mesolimbic pathway, is central to addiction.
Dopamine is the key neurotransmitter in the reward pathway, reinforcing survival behaviors.
Abuse of substances or behaviors can cause a dopamine flood, leading to intense pleasure and addiction.
Chronic dopamine elevation leads to brain adaptations, reducing pleasure receptors and causing tolerance.
Addiction can evolve from seeking pleasure to habitual behavior, almost like a reflex.
Genetics play a significant role in addiction susceptibility, accounting for up to 75% of the likelihood.
Social environment and lack of stimulation can predispose individuals to seek addictive activities.
Adolescents are more prone to addiction due to the immature prefrontal cortex and risk-taking behavior.
The earlier in life someone tries drugs, the higher the likelihood of developing addiction.
Addiction is a complex trait influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors.
Intervention in adolescence is crucial to prevent lifelong addiction problems.
No single factor determines addiction, but it's a significant issue faced by millions daily.
Transcripts
addiction has been described as a global
humanitarian crisis
it affects millions of people around the
world has been the subject of numerous
media depictions
and is potentially one of the most
stigmatized conditions that there is
[Music]
but what happens neurologically when we
actually become
addicted to something scientists first
began to seriously study addictive
behaviors back in the 1930s
before this it was widely assumed that
people with addictions
were in some way morally flawed or
lacking the willpower and
mental strength to overcome their
problems
it's a story we've all come across the
diligent students start skipping
school and letting their grades slip a
trustworthy
honest friend might get caught stealing
the immaculate beauty queen
stops caring about their appearance
these out of character behavioral
changes
can be directly linked to changes within
the brain itself
in this video we're going to delve deep
into the science behind addiction
but first let's talk exactly about what
is an addiction
according to the nhs addiction can be
defined
as not having control over doing taking
or using something in a way where it
could be harmful to you this is most
commonly associated with drug abuse
but the definition can be extended to
include just about anything
gambling sex or even work can lead to
harmful
destructive addictions with the affected
people causing themselves
as well as the people around them harm
by neglecting
all other aspects of their lives
innovative brain imaging techniques
have revolutionized our understanding of
what is happening
to the brains of affected people we can
now see that addiction actually changes
the brain structure
in ways that can alter the way it works
and process information
to understand the ways that this might
impact their choices and behavior
we need to start thinking about rewards
deep in the brain sits the reward
pathway
a neuronal pathway that connects
clusters of neurons
from different areas of the brain in a
highly organized way
also known as the mesolimbic pathway the
reward pathway's primary function
is to reinforce sets of behaviors if we
think back in evolutionary time
it was helpful to have a mechanism that
rewards us for behaviors useful for
survival
things like finding food in times of
famine or escaping from a source of
danger
it's even more helpful to have a way to
remember how we manage to stay alive
so that we can repeat it the next time
we're in a similar situation
the reward pathway achieves all this
primarily
through the use of a particular
neurotransmitter called
dopamine following an appropriate action
a small burst of dopamine
is released by the reward pathway this
causes you to feel a small jolt of
satisfaction which acts as a reward for
keeping yourself alive
encouraging you to repeat the same
behavior in the future
dopamine signals also act on areas of
the brain involved in memory
and movement which help us build up
memories of what is
good for survival and makes it easier to
do it again
dopamine is also released when good
things happen to us
rewarding experiences such as winning a
game
or getting a compliment at work sends
signals to release bursts of dopamine
more indirectly if you take a painkiller
like an opioid or have an alcoholic
drink
certain neurons within your central
nervous system
are suppressed the resulting feelings of
peace or relaxation
also come about through a spike in
dopamine release
this unfortunately paves the way for
both drug
and non-drug addictions whenever an
action
or a substance is abused such as
excessive gambling or
over consumption of pornography junk
food or drugs
the reward system floods the entire
circuit
with levels of dopamine up to 10 times
higher than a natural reward
depending on the route of administration
this can happen
almost instantaneously with the effects
lasting
much longer than a natural stimulus the
over stimulation of the brain's natural
reward mechanism
produces intensely euphoric and
pleasurable sensations
that act to strongly motivate people to
seek out
more of it unfortunately if we keep on
taking
and engaging in these behaviors and
flooding our reward systems
over time the brain attempts to adapt to
these
chronically elevated levels of dopamine
the brain
actually reduces the number of receptors
that are able to respond to dopamine
signals
with special channels being inserted to
remove dopamine from the circuit
it also means that dopamine release is
reduced as well
with your ability to feel pleasure now
drastically reduced
you experience tolerance a state where
you need to experience
more and more of this substance or
action
in order to release the same amount of
dopamine this explains the predominant
seeking behaviors commonly seen
in long-term addiction eventually areas
outside of the reward pathways are
affected too
brain regions involved in decision
making
judgment and even memory begin to
physically change
with some areas having neurons added
and some areas dying away the overall
effect is to make drug seeking behavior
become driven by habit rather than
conscious thought
almost like a reflex in effect that
person's brain has become
hijacked concentrated on the sole
purpose
of seeking out more and more of the
addictive substance
whatever the cost not everyone who tries
a drug
will become an addict so why do some
people
develop strong addictions while others
don't
we can split the answer into three main
reasons
genetics environment and development
you've probably come across
someone describing themselves as having
an addictive personality
in fact recent research suggests that up
to 75
of the likelihood of developing
addiction comes from your genetics
these biological differences can make a
person more or less vulnerable to
addiction
and can influence the strength of any
withdrawal symptoms experienced
if they attempt to quit addiction is
quite clearly a complex trait
and is most likely influenced by
multiple different genes
no one is born destined to develop an
addiction
so what else is at work here the next
point is the social environment and that
plays a significant role in rewiring of
your reward system
for example if you've got a stable
relationship or
doing great at work you're going to feel
pretty good
it's thought that people who don't have
much stimulation of their reward
pathways
through social environments or
interactions
are more likely to seek out addictive
activities
as a way to stimulate their own
neglected reward pathways
one study found that monkeys lower down
on the social hierarchy
who didn't receive as many social
benefits
such as grooming were much more likely
to self-administer
cocaine in a laboratory than monkeys
higher up in the social ladder
now comes the last point development we
know that addiction can happen at any
age
but we also know that the earlier in
life someone tries drugs
the more likely it is that they will
develop an addiction
the brain doesn't finish developing
until your mid-20s
in particular an error that continues to
mature during adolescence
is the prefrontal cortex the part of the
brain
responsible for reasoning keeping your
emotions under control
and making decisions we all know how
rebellious teenagers are
wanting to go out at odd hours try new
things
fight back against what they perceive to
be parental
or social tyranny as they try to find
themselves
unfortunately this means that the
adolescent brain
is hardwired for taking risks and making
poor decisions
this extends to things like trying drugs
or continuing to take them
which is why intervention in this group
is especially important
to prevent lifelong problems no one
chooses how their brain is going to
react
and there is no single factor that
determines whether a person
will become addicted or not nonetheless
it's a real problem that millions of
people face
every day these videos are made possible
by our patreon supporters
you can support us by using the link
below and don't forget to drop us a like
if you enjoyed this video
see you next time
[Music]
you
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