The Addictive Brain

by Thad Polk

Streaming video, 2015

Status

Available

Call number

611.81

Publication

Great Courses (2015), 6 hours, 12 lectures, 117 pages

Description

Science. Nonfiction. HTML: Addiction is a problem that affects everyone - even if we haven't experienced addiction ourselves, we all know someone who has. Unfortunately many sources of information about addiction seem inaccessible or irrelevant because they present vague or false science, they present accurate science in an excessively complicated way, or they are more moralistic than informative. Addiction is sometimes viewed as a failure of character or will or morality. But neuroscience offers a very different picture - one that can inform how we, as individuals and as a society, treat addicts and the problems caused by addiction. These 12 eye-opening lectures will show you that addiction is a scientifically understandable problem that has its origins in neurobiology and genetics. The Addictive Brain is a fair and balanced investigation of addiction, backed by hard science and behavioral science. Most of us have probably seen the old antidrug commercial in which an actor compares your brain on drugs to an egg sizzling in a hot frying pan. That's a powerful image, but it doesn't tell us what actually happens when drugs enter your body and interact with neurochemical processes. Professor Polk gives you a comprehensive but concise survey of addiction and the major drugs of abuse, highlighting the differing neurological effects of stimulants, opioids, and more. He also delves into the world of behavioral addictions, such as gambling and compulsive video gaming, which, neurologically, operate very similarly to drug addiction. This course will clearly and compassionately inform you on what addiction means scientifically, socially, and behaviorally..… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member LisCarey

Addiction is a word that is often tossed around casually, but real addiction is a serious and complex problem. This is a look at what we know about the biological aspects of addiction, the role that human physiology and genetics play in making addiction, and in treating addiction.

Polk starts off by

defining what he means by addiction in this book, the stricter definition of actual physical addiction, with continued use of the addictive substance despite serious negative consequences, and often despite a real desire and effort on the part of the addict to quit. Then he explains what's going on in the body, in creating and maintaining addiction. This includes the research in twin studies and in animal models--mostly mice, who are surprisingly genetically similar to us.

Polk also looks specifically at some of our favorite addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, and nicotine), as well as those that cause us the most public distress and public policy problems (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, marijuana) (okay, marijuana belongs in both lists, really). They each have their own distinguishing features and problems, but they all also illuminate the larger problem of addiction.

And finally, he also looks at behavior addictions, such as gambling, and why yes, those can be real, physical addictions, too.

He's clear, he's informative, and I found it enormously helpful in increasing my understanding.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

Show Less