On Humans From Alcohol to Antidepressants: What Drugs Teach Us About Brain Chemistry ~ Judy Grisel
Oct 2, 2025
Judy Grisel, a neuroscientist and former addict, dives into the science of addiction and brain chemistry. She explores how dopamine shapes our desires and how substances like alcohol can sedate while rewarding. Grisel discusses the varied impacts of serotonin, contrasting SSRIs with psychedelics, and explains how modern behavioral addictions mirror drug-like effects. With hope for recovery, she emphasizes the importance of channeling cravings into positive pursuits and the empowering aspects of understanding addiction.
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Dopamine as A Meaning Signal
- Dopamine signals meaning and expectation rather than raw pleasure.
- This shifts addiction understanding from 'pleasure' to hijacked significance and pursuit.
Endorphin Sensitivity Predicts Alcohol Response
- Alcohol can trigger large endorphin surges in some people, making early drinking feel transcendent.
- Those high endorphin responses can predispose people to alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Shuts Down The Top First
- Alcohol enhances GABA and inhibits glutamate, reducing cortical control first.
- That top-down sedation frees limbic impulses, explaining disinhibition then pass-out effects.
