The dopamine system also responds robustly to addictive drugs, including opiates, alcohol and cocaine. These drugs can evoke stronger activation than natural rewards and, unlike natural rewards, they do not cause satiety.
A straightforward interpretation of these facts is that the dopamine system is a pleasure pathway in the brain.
One of the most important aspects of dopamine function is movement wich allows us to learn. Researchers believe that dopamine neurons change their activity when expectations about reward do not match the reality, signalling a ‘reward prediction error’ that drives learning. For instance, dopamine neurons are activated by unanticipated rewards, but they are suppressed when expected rewards fail to materialize.
Can brain research be used to overcome the effects of dopamine in addiction?
Neuroscientists are actively pursuing the creation of drugs that block the learning induced by dopamine in addiction. However, they have had limited success, for it is difficult to create a drug the blocks the learning without also blocking other functions of dopamine, such as feeling alert, motivated and happy.
Dopamine-induced learning is certainly not the whole story behind addiction, but it does suggest that we should consider whether addiction is something that human reasoning on its own can overcome. The same might very well also apply to other everyday failures of willpower, such as overeating.
Source & further reading:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-12-dopamine-blame-addictions.html
Welcome to our BLOG. We write about the real causes of injury and give you really great tips on how you can improve your posture and quality of life.
Learn more →
Not Sure About our Courses?
Listen to the Posturology Podcast ↓
Don’t be shy. Let us know if you have any questions!
Do you suffer from chronic pain or recurrent injuries? Do you want to optimize your performance at the gym and prevent the negative effects of aging? Discuss your issues with our expert Posturologist and start working towards a better you.
[et_social_follow icon_style=”simple” icon_shape=”rectangle” icons_location=”top” col_number=”2″ counts=”true” counts_num=”0″ total=”true” custom_colors=”true” bg_color=”” bg_color_hover=”” icon_color=”” icon_color_hover=”” outer_color=”dark” network_names=”true”]
Discover the often-overlooked importance of proper tongue posture in enhancing your overall health. From improved…