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The Neuroscience of Addiction with Dr Judy Grisel

Psychology In Seattle Podcast

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The Correlation Between Addiction and Causation

Using addictive drugs early on, even kind of briefly during this adolescent period of high plasticity, makes the reward system, for instance, less sensitive. If we give a rat or a mouse a few exposures to any mind altering drug, nicotine, THC, alcohol, anything,. And then we let them grow up normally and test them as adults. They'll self administer more cocaine, more heroin, more alcohol, more THC. The mesolimbic dopamine system is less sensitive in those adults who were exposed as adolescents. So, it's almost like listening to the music too loud. Some kids more likely than others from a biological or environmental influence, but all children are more susceptible than adults.

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