Addiction is a problem that affects everyone – even if we haven’t experienced addiction ourselves, we all know someone who has. Unfortunately many sources of information about addiction seem inaccessible or irrelevant because they present vague or false science, they present accurate science in an excessively complicated way, or they are more moralistic than informative.
Addiction is sometimes viewed as a failure of character or will or morality. But neuroscience offers a very different picture – one that can inform how we, as individuals and as a society, treat addicts and the problems caused by addiction. These 12 eye-opening lectures will show you that addiction is a scientifically understandable problem that has its origins in neurobiology and genetics.
The Addictive Brain is a fair and balanced investigation of addiction, backed by hard science and behavioral science. Most of us have probably seen the old antidrug commercial in which an actor compares your brain on drugs to an egg sizzling in a hot frying pan. That’s a powerful image, but it doesn’t tell us what actually happens when drugs enter your body and interact with neurochemical processes.
Professor Polk gives you a comprehensive but concise survey of addiction and the major drugs of abuse, highlighting the differing neurological effects of stimulants, opioids, and more. He also delves into the world of behavioral addictions, such as gambling and compulsive video gaming, which, neurologically, operate very similarly to drug addiction. This course will clearly and compassionately inform you on what addiction means scientifically, socially, and behaviorally.
Five Stars Good college level information.
Presented professionally and in a manner easy to understand for everyone As a mental health & chemical dependency counselor, this audiobook is interesting and a helpful tool in explaining the different components involved in recovery and addiction. Presented professionally and in a manner easy to understand for everyone.
Excellent audio and very instructive! I listened to the audio version on Audible so I missed the visuals. But Dr. Polk’s descriptions were super helpful in understanding the roles of different parts of the brain. I’m new to the subject of neurology. According to Wiki the brain has hundreds of components but this audio book gave me an introductory grasp of the nucleus accumbens, VTA, and prefrontal cortex (not to mention dopamine and cortisol). Polk speaks clearly, intelligently, not too fast, and with empathy for the vexing problem…