The Addictive Brain

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are ... (more)

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are they? After reviewing how each of these drugs affects the brain - and why nicotine in particular is so addictive - Professor Polk offers several strategies to quit tobacco use. (less)

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are ... (more)

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are they? After reviewing how each of these drugs affects the brain - and why nicotine in particular is so addictive - Professor Polk offers several strategies to quit tobacco use. (less)

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are ... (more)

Caffeine and nicotine are two of the most common psychoactive drugs in our society. How do they work? How dangerous are they? After reviewing how each of these drugs affects the brain - and why nicotine in particular is so addictive - Professor Polk offers several strategies to quit tobacco use. (less)

Are drugs the only thing humans can get addicted to? What about behaviors? To answer this question, take a look at what ... (more)

Are drugs the only thing humans can get addicted to? What about behaviors? To answer this question, take a look at what happens inside the brain of a compulsive gambler. As this case study reveals, many of the same neurochemical processes of drug abuse - from genetic predisposition to dopamine release - also accompany addiction to behaviors. (less)

The course concludes with an exploration of other potentially addictive behaviors. Professor Polk argues that some artif... (more)

The course concludes with an exploration of other potentially addictive behaviors. Professor Polk argues that some artificial stimuli - junk food, pornography, and video games to name three - are "supernormal," meaning that they actually activate the brain's reward circuit more strongly than natural stimuli do, leading to some of the same neurological effects as drug use. (less)

Addiction touches us all. What happens when your brain is on drugs? Discover the neural mechanisms that underlie the beh... (more)

Addiction touches us all. What happens when your brain is on drugs? Discover the neural mechanisms that underlie the behaviors of addiction, and see how drugs and activities like gambling can hijack the brain and lead to behavioral problems. Understanding addiction can motivate an addict to seek treatment, and can lead loved ones to see the addict in a new way. (less)