Memory’s Link to Recovering from Addiction

A pretty clear explanation of one of the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction:

New research on the brain is showing that addiction is a matter of memories, and recovery is a slow process in which the influence of those memories is diminished...

Studies have shown that addictive drugs stimulate a reward circuit in the brain. The circuit provides incentives for action by registering the value of important experiences. Rewarding experiences trigger the release of the brain chemical dopamine, telling the brain “do it again.” What makes permanent recovery difficult is drug-induced change that creates lasting memories linking the drug to a pleasurable reward.

Who's Next: Nora Volkow--Newsweek

Nora Volkow, the Director of NIDA, made Newsweek's Who's Next list for the year. The article gives an overview of her work.

She talks a little about the role of dopamine and the effects of stress on the number of dopamine receptors. When I posted her talk this weekend I forgot to mention this. It provokes some interesting questions about the role of stress in relapse and addiction onset.