New Studies Link Brain Patterns To Addiction
Ever wondered why you can tell yourself over and over that you’re not going to do something and then, the second you stop thinking about it, you realize you’re doing it? Whether it’s indulging in another chocolate chip cookie or picking up when you’re trying to stay clean, these compulsive behaviors are linked to specific parts of the brain. A recent study has been studying this part of the brain to learn more about addiction and how it develops.
Charlotte Boettiger, PhD, is lead scientist on the study and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She says, “Our data suggest there may be a cognitive difference in people with addictions. Their brains may not fully process the long-term consequences of their choices. They may compute information less efficiently. What’s exciting about this study is that it suggests a new approach to therapy. We might prescribe medications, such as those used to treat Parkinson’s or early Alzheimer’s disease, or tailor cognitive therapy to improve executive function.”
The orbital frontal cortex is the part of the brain being studied. Boettiger explains the action of this part of the brain and its connection to addiction: “Think of the orbital frontal cortex as the brakes. With the brakes on, people choose for the future. Without the brakes they choose for the short-term gain.
“We have a lot to learn, but the data takes a significant step toward being able to … tailor treatments, and may provide earlier intervention for people who are at risk for developing addictions. It’s not unlike chronic diseases, such as diabetes. There are underlying genetic and other biological factors, but the disease is triggered by the choices people make. It wasn’t that long ago that we believed schizophrenia was caused by bad mothers and depression wasn’t a disease. Hopefully, in 10 years, we’ll look back and it will seem silly that we didn’t think addiction was a disease, too.”
It will be interesting to see how far they can take this research and how much it will affect treatment availability for those addicted to opiate painkillers. Right now, we have Suboxone to help quell the withdrawal symptoms associated with detox but one day we could have a vaccine or other preventative measure to keep addiction at bay.
For more information on this and other studies, check out Gallo Research.
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