Understanding Addiction
What dependency looks like neurologically
The reason dependence is so complex is because it’s tied in to virtually every mechanism related to memory. It’s why experts struggle to draw the line consistently between behavioural and substance addiction.
Lately, I’ve been writing about behavioural neuroscience. And these discussions are loosely framed around a book I was invited to review, entitled Overloaded: How Every Aspect of Your Life is Influenced by Your Brain Chemicals, written by Ginny Smith. One topic that makes an appearance quite frequently throughout is addiction.
As you can appreciate, this would need to be one protracted exposition to do justice to that subject. There were a couple of findings described in Smith’s book, however, that stood out to me; and they can go a long way in understanding, treating, and even avoiding harmful addictions altogether.
What memory teaches us about addiction
Habituation facilitates learning; is a form of long-term memory; is involved in everything from trauma to perception, movement, and, of…