Minding the Brain Behavioral Addiction
Nov 4, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of behavioral addiction! Discover how everyday actions like eating, gambling, and smartphone use can trigger our brain's reward pathways. Learn the fascinating distinctions between compulsive behaviors and healthy habits, and explore conditions like binge eating disorder and internet gaming disorder. The hosts also highlight the impact of dopamine and the neurobiological shifts that occur with addictive behaviors. Join them in unraveling the complexities of addiction beyond substances!
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Addiction As Loss Of Control
- Robert West's definition: addiction is loss of control over reward-seeking behavior.
- Kim Hellemans links addiction to brain circuits like the mesocorticolimbic dopamine pathway.
Behaviors Can Hijack Reward Circuits
- Behaviors can activate the same reward circuits as drugs, though usually less extremely.
- Addiction arises from interaction of stimulus, individual vulnerability, and stress.
Modern Foods As Superstimuli
- Kim contrasts ancestral rare high-calorie finds with today's concentrated processed foods.
- She uses examples like Cheetos and McDonald's to show modern hyperpalatable foods.