Why do addictions happen? / Dopamine Ups & Downs, Cravings, Neurobiology & Neuroscience

I prepared a summary to introduce you to this topic:

The crucial brain reward neurotransmitter activated by addictive drugs is dopamine, specifically in the “second-stage” ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens link in the brain’s reward circuitry. This has been learned over many decades of research, and is based upon many congruent findings.

When we crave something, it signals our brain’s demand for a substance or action linked to pleasure or alleviation of discomfort. This demand triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which stimulates the brain’s reward pathways, creating a compelling urge for the craved item or activity.

Animal studies have shown that when cortisol is released with chronic stress, changes in the brain’s response can lead to lower dopamine levels and increased cravings. Stress has also been associated with increased levels of the hormone ghrelin, again causing stronger cravings.

Today, Crystal meth releases more dopamine in the brain compared to any other drug. Dopamine is a brain neurotransmitter that serves a number of functions, including the feeling of pleasure. When crystal meth leads to a powerful surge of dopamine in the brain, people feel motivated to seek it out again and again.

Additionally, the intensified dopamine response in the brain that mood-altering drugs produce does not naturally stop once the behaviour is initiated or completed (as is the case with natural reward behaviours such as eating or having sex); as a result, cravings for the rewards associated with the drug continue to occur.

Dopamine affects movement, emotion, learning, reward, and executive functions. High levels may result in impulsiveness and aggression, while low levels may lead to tiredness and a lack of motivation.

High dopamine symptoms include anxiety, excessive energy, insomnia, and hallucinations. Low dopamine levels are associated with brain fog, mood swings, and muscle spasms.

When we constantly overstimulate ourselves with things like excessive screen time, gaming, and unhealthy eating, it can lead to issues like addiction and poor mental health. During a dopamine detox, you have to avoid activities like social media, gaming, junk food, and even work.

Engage in Natural Dopamine-Boosting Activities: Physical exercise, meditation, exposure to sunlight, engaging in hobbies, and listening to music can naturally increase dopamine levels. These activities not only help in elevating mood but also in reducing cravings.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

1 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the science of addiction, focusing on the role of dopamine to understand why quick rewards make addiction so hard to combat. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine and host of the Huberman Lab podcast.

2 Nov 2023

Dr. Andrew Huberman discusses the dopamine-driven cycle of craving and motivation.

*Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

What causes an addictive brain? / Addictions, The Reward System & Neuroscience

* dedicated to our dearest Li, who is an expert professional on the treatment of addictions 🙂

I prepared this summary to introduce you to the topic:

Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a primary and chronic disease of the brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. This is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences.

The term reward system describes a group of structures that are activated by rewarding or reinforcing stimuli, such as addictive drugs or alcohol. When the brain is exposed to a rewarding stimulus, it reacts by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Instead of a simple, pleasurable surge of dopamine, many drugs of abuse—such as opioids, cocaine, or nicotine—cause dopamine to flood the reward pathway, 10 times more than a natural reward. The brain remembers this surge and associates it with the addictive substance.

When rewarding stimuli are experienced, the dopaminergic mesolimbic system is activated which causes the release of dopamine to the targeted nuclei (Small et al. 2003; Cameron et al. 2014). The ventral striatum, including the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), is a major substrate involved in reward.

Dopamine (DA) is the neurotransmitter that has been classically associated with the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse and may have a key role in triggering the neurobiological changes associated with addiction.

Research has shown that the drugs most commonly abused by humans (including opiates, alcohol, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine) create a neurochemical reaction that significantly increases the amount of dopamine that is released by neurons in the brain’s reward centre.

Midbrain dopamine neurons are well known for their strong responses to rewards and their critical role in positive motivation. It has become increasingly clear, however, that dopamine neurons also transmit signals related to salient but non-rewarding experiences such as aversive and alerting events.

Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

23 May 2022

For more information on addiction services at #YaleMedicine, visit: https://www.yalemedicine.org/departme…. Written and produced by Yale Neuroscience PhD student Clara Liao.

Addiction is now understood to be a brain disease. Whether it’s alcohol, prescription pain pills, nicotine, gambling, or something else, overcoming an addiction isn’t as simple as just stopping or exercising greater control over impulses. That’s because addiction develops when the pleasure circuits in the brain get overwhelmed, in a way that can become chronic and sometimes even permanent. This is what’s at play when you hear about reward “systems” or “pathways” and the role of dopamine when it comes to addiction.

But what does any of that really mean?

One of the most primitive parts of the brain, the reward system, developed as a way to reinforce behaviours we need to survive—such as eating. When we eat foods, the reward pathways activate a chemical called dopamine, which, in turn, releases a jolt of satisfaction. This encourages you to eat again in the future. When a person develops an addiction to a substance, it’s because the brain has started to change. This happens because addictive substances trigger an outsized response when they reach the brain. Instead of a simple, pleasurable surge of dopamine, many drugs of abuse—such as opioids, cocaine, or nicotine—cause dopamine to flood the reward pathway, 10 times more than a natural reward.

The brain remembers this surge and associates it with the addictive substance. However, with chronic use of the substance, over time the brain’s circuits adapt and become less sensitive to dopamine. Achieving that pleasurable sensation becomes increasingly important, but at the same time, you build tolerance and need more and more of that substance to generate the level of high you crave.

Addiction can also cause problems with focus, memory, and learning, not to mention decision-making and judgement. Seeking drugs, therefore, is driven by habit—and not conscious, rational decisions. Unfortunately, the belief that people with addictions are simply making bad choices pervades. Furthermore, the use of stigmatizing language, such as “junkie” and “addict” and getting “clean,” often creates barriers when it comes to accessing treatment. There’s also stigma that surrounds treatment methods, creating additional challenges.

Though treatment modalities differ based on an individual’s history and the particular addiction he or she has developed, medications can make all the difference. “A lot of people think that the goal of treatment for opioid use disorder, for example, is not taking any medication at all,” says David A. Fiellin, MD, a Yale Medicine primary care and addiction medicine specialist.

“Research shows that medication-based treatments are the most effective treatment. Opioid use disorder is a medical condition just like depression, diabetes or hypertension, and as with those conditions, it is most effectively treated with a combination of medication and counselling.”

Seeking for more info & help? Visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/addiction/psychology/reward-system/

Hacks to reduce the impact of your sugar cravings / Biochemestry & Wellness

4 PM Chocolate Cravings: Chocolate cake + Greek yogurt

The cravings centre in our brain

The Protein Leverage Hypothesis

7 Feb 2024

Useful links that I cover in the video: • Anti-Spike Formula, my new supplement that reduces the spike of carbs and sugars by 40%: https://antispike.com/ • Savory Breakfast Guide and recipes: https://www.glucosegoddess.com/savour… • My 10 glucose hacks as a PDF: https://www.glucosegoddess.com/email-…

Welcome to my brand new show! Today, we’re tackling the science behind sugar cravings. Learn practical hacks to control cravings and why breakfast is key. For more tips and glucose hacks, hit subscribe. Let’s conquer cravings together!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Cravings Are Not Your Fault
01:02 – 4 PM Chocolate Cravings
02:17 – Diving into the Science of Cravings
03:46 – Glucose levels
04:22 – The cravings centre in our brain
07:31 – Dopamine
09:40 – Introducing Glucose Hacks
10:11 – When to eat sugar
10:54 – How to ‘Dress’ Your Carbs
11:50 – The Vinegar Hack
12:30 – The Protein Leverage Hypothesis
14:20 – Savory Breakfast
16:23 – Anti-Spike Formula

Brain Health | how food affects the brain | ESL & ELT tasks

 

When it comes to what you bite, chew and swallow, your choices have a direct and long-lasting effect on the most powerful organ in your body: your brain. So which foods cause you to feel so tired after lunch? Or so restless at night? Mia Nacamulli takes you into the brain to find out.

Task 1.  Comprehension.  Watch the video and answer these questions:

1-What is one thing that makes essential fatty acids so unique?

a-Essential fatty acids are man-made

b-Essential fatty acids must come from our diets

c-Essential fatty acids make you lose weight

d-Essential fatty acids come from saturated fats

2-Amino acids contain the precursors to neurotransmitters. Which of the following is a neurotransmitter?

a-Dopamine

b-Norepinephrine

c-Serotonin

d-All of the above 

3-What do antioxidants do?

a-Work as a natural pesticide for nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables

b-Shorten attention span

c-Activate neurotransmitters

d-Fight off free radicals that destroy brain cells

4-Most of the energy that your brain uses comes from:

a-Antioxidants

b-Carbohydrates

c-Amino Acids

d-Micronutrients

5-Why is glucose important for brain health?

6-Which of the following foods has slow glucose release?

a-Legumes

b-Fruit

c-Dessert

d-Carbonated drinks 

7-What makes up the nutritional content of your brain?

8-How do proteins and amino acids affect how we think and behave?

Task 2.  Research, Writing & Speaking.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Your brain is like a machine that needs specific materials to function well. This website breaks down the different nutritional parts that are necessary, and how they interact with the brain. Take a look and learn about some brain food.

Glucose is the brain’s fuel. Interested in the interaction between our mental performance and the amount of glucose we have? How about the effects of extreme dips in glucose, like during starvation? What effect does this have on our mental functioning? Find out more here: Glucose and mental performance.Those amino acids are essential for brain function too. Click here for the dummy’s list of essential amino acids and which foods are best for getting them. Have you thought about changing your diet a bit? How can proteins help?

Don’t forget about those micronutrients! What exactly does the brain do with micronutrients? Does it matter if we get enough of them?

What happens if our brains, specifically young, growing brains, don’t get the nutrition they need? Food insecurity at a young age can have direct effects on early brain functioning.

Interested in learning more about the brain? TED Ed has several lessons! Start with these:

How sugar affects the brain – Nicole Avena

How stress affects your brain – Madhumita Murgia

What percentage of your brain do you use? – Richard E. Cytowic

Task 3.  Discussion, Writing & Speaking.

What do you think is an ideal diet for brain health? How does this diet benefit the brain?

comment 1:   The most ideal diet for brain heath is just simple, I believe, yoga. Yoga calms the body and also is beneficial for our body, since it is one of excercising. Yoga, making our body calm, leads us to forget from our desire of food. It was mentioned in the video, that protein rich meal or a plate of pasta may lead us to feel more calm. Yoga is very beneficial since it can target two things, energizing and control of eating. I strongly prefer yoga, since it can stop the brain from desiring food.

comment 2:   In South Korea, people are getting more interested in yoga or fitness, since they believe that it is one of the suitable way. If you think diet defined as food that can control your health, I believe banana is one of the ideal diet for brain health. Lot of people who participate in sports, like bananas as a snack since it has enough nutrients and also makes people naturally feel full. By eating a small amount of banana, people may feel satisfied with their food.

 

comment 3: What do you think is an ideal diet for brain health?
I think the ideal diet for brain (& body) health is WFPB. I have been on a Whole Foods Plant-Based (WFPB) diet for almost 51 years. I make sure I eat a variety of foods and balanced with 1) carbohydrates (glucose) that contain starch, natural plant sugars, and fiber; 2) proteins (amino acids) for neurotransmission; 3) essential fats/lipids, Omegas 3 & 6s while omitting ALL saturated AND trans fat foods; and 4) micronutrients – vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water, and fiber. I eat from the following: whole grains, pulse (=legumes), a rainbow of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds. I omitted processed oils from my diet as well as any fish and animal products (including dairy, cheese, and eggs). I eat very little salt for seasoning because plant foods contain sodium. I seldom eat any unnatural or refined sugars. Almost all my food is homemade. Processed (manufactured) and refined foods omitted as well. Vit B12 is received from…

comment 4:   Michael Pollan suggests we build our diets to consist of foods our grandparents would recognize – in other words, avoiding processed foods. Nature provides all the elements required for sustenance and growth. Nature is NOT big on “convenience”. So if you’re eating a convenience diet you’re headed for a collision with the natural order of things.
Other guidance from the ages re diet includes:
Know what what you eat eats.
Too much of a good thing isn’t.
All things in moderation.
Balance. Balance. Balance.

comment 5: the food you eat can affect your moods. one way food can affect your moods is that if you eat pasta you’ll be more chill and laid back. another way food can affect your moods is if you eat a lot of candy you will feel tired and if you eat a whole turkey you will be on high alert

comment 6: The most ideal brain diet is a high protein and high fat, but these need to be the healthy fats. People have always thought that fats are bad for you, they can be. You just need to eat the right kind. Pasta is a very good source of energy to the body, mix that with some vegetables or a fruit salad and you will be getting a good mix of everything. Protein rich meals like, steak, beef, and chicken. If you have a healthy amount of these in your body then you will be able to function at optimal level. Our brains are the most important organ in the body, which means it should deserve the most care and protection. The hard part is its getting a lot more expensive to eat healthy, it’s so easy to just get a burger at any stop. Our brains deserve the utter most care, eating healthy may be a task, but in the long run it will help you live longer and function better.

How good exercise is for your brain ?

5 Ways That Exercise Is Good For Your Brain

We read over and over that we must keep exercising in order to fend off the effects on the brain of growing older.

That’s great advice for everyone, but it’s a little more complicated than that. 

Researchers have found that there are at least five different ways in which exercise can make your brain function better.

1.  Exercise Promotes The Growth Of New Brain Cells

Exercise promotes the creation of new brain cells in an already mature brain. However, even that simple notion is complicated as a recent study verifies. Researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, with other institutions, set out to discover whether long-distance running, weight training and interval training all produced the same results. They actually set groups of rats to various different workouts, and then measured the level of neurogenesis, or creation of new brain cells, at the end of seven weeks.

They found that strictly in the area of the creation of new brain cells, distance running was the clear winner, while weight training and interval training fell far behind. Assuming humans behave the same as rats, then, distance running or hiking at a fast clip, is our best bet for creating new brain cells. Other researchers have found similar results: even though the birth of new brain cells slows as we age, one study of healthy 60 to 70 year-olds found significant increases in brain volume after six months of aerobic fitness training, but no changes in the controls who only did stretching and toning exercises. 

2.  Exercise Fights Depression

Taking a good long walk in nature can do wonders to lift your spirits if you’re feeling down and there’s a reason for that. Exercise boosts the brain’s production of several important hormones, including serotonin and dopamine, two brain chemicals that are crucial to a happy mood. Exercise also increases levels of those feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Taken together, these hormones have a powerful impact. According to John J. Ratey, Ph.D., a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, “By elevating neurotransmitters in the brain, it (exercise) helps us focus, feel better, and release tension.”

3. Exercise Can Reduce The Effects Of Stress

Not only can exercise improve your mood when you’re feeling down, it can also help you deal with stressful situations. Cortisol is released in response to fear or stress by the adrenal glands. According to Christopher Bergland, writing in Psychology Today, “The stress hormone, cortisol, is public health enemy number one. Scientists have known for years that elevated cortisol levels: interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease… The list goes on and on.” Bergland suggests that any aerobic activity, even just 20-30 minutes of activity every day will work to burn up the cortisol in our brains.

4.  Exercise Helps Your Brian Function More Efficiently

We’re talking here about cognitive tasks like thinking abstractly, focusing on complex tasks, and being able to memorize items like phone numbers. Basically, when you exercise regularly, you are improving neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the brain to grow with all that rushing of blood and hormones. The importance of this idea has recently found its way into K-12 education. Instructors at Charles Pinckney Elementary School in Charleston, South Carolina, and at other schools in the area, are using Active Brains, a program that uses action-based learning to support the link of movement and physical activity to increased academic performance: students are incorporating exercise into their math classes.

5.  Exercise Increases Sensitivity To Insulin

Here’s one you may find surprising: in order for glucose — or blood sugar, that we produce when we eat — to enter brain cells, it must be accompanied by the hormone insulin. However, in some cases, brain cells can become resistant to insulin, which leads the body to pump out more and more of it, but there may still be an unhealthy increase in blood sugar levels. Resistance to insulin is bad news for your brain. However, regular exercise can reverse this condition, and increase your insulin sensitivity, thus stabilizing your blood sugar after you eat.

What do you think? Is it time to get out and exercise, and feel all those benefits to your brain?

 

Is Happiness a Science? ESL activity: giving presentations.

bestofmvm.wordpress.com

ESL activity: use this graphic to prepare a 5′ presentation.  You can go to the “effective communication” category on the menu of this blog to find posts on how to give and prepare presentations to help you.

You can use a monolingual or photo-dictionary to help you.

Give your presentation to your classmates.