Science Fictions Episode 40: Addiction
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Jun 11, 2024 Delving into addiction, the hosts discuss varied interpretations and definitions, exploring behavioral addictions. They touch on historical cases and the evolution of addiction perceptions, from moral to recognized disorders. The conversation also covers addiction research breakthroughs, misconceptions, and complexities like tolerance and dependence.
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Caffeine Example Clarifies Dependence
- Tom used his caffeine habit to illustrate dependence but not addiction.
- A friend corrected him: researchers call his case 'dependence,' not 'addiction.'
Key Components Aren't The Same As Addiction
- Tolerance, dependence, reinforcement and harm are distinct concepts often conflated with addiction.
- None of those alone suffice to define addiction; they can be present without addiction.
Brain Stimulation Linked To Compulsive Seeking
- Olds and Milner's electrode experiments showed animals will repeatedly seek brain stimulation linked to reward.
- These results connected addiction-like behavior to brain reward circuits and dopamine involvement.