TELEVISION

Addictive Brain

Series: Great Courses
4.4
(104)
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Episodes
12
Rating
TVPG
Year
2015
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

Addiction touches us all. What happens when your brain is on drugs? Discover the neural mechanisms that underlie the behaviors of addiction, and see how drugs and activities like gambling can hijack the brain and lead to behavioral problems. Understanding addiction can motivate an addict to seek treatment, and can lead loved ones to see the addict in a new way.

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Episodes

1 to 3 of 12

1. Addiction 101

30m

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Begin your course by defining "addiction," which is diagnosed based on characteristics such as abuse, dependence, and craving. Professor Polk then surveys the history of drug use, from ancient history through the development of synthetics in the 19th and 20th centuries. Finally, he reviews government regulation and the substantial costs of drug abuse, both to the individual and to society.

2. The Psychology and Neuroscience of Reward

30m

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Explore the brain's mechanisms for learning from reinforcement. You'll start with the psychological aspects, discovering the way humans learn by a series of trials and rewards. Then you'll find out what parts of the brain process pleasure, self-control, and craving, and see how the psychology and neuroscience of reward processing converge.

3. How Addiction Hijacks the Brain

30m

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Here you'll examine the ways addiction alters the brain by numbing the pleasure center, sensitizing the dopamine system, and inhibiting the prefrontal cortex. Combined, these altered brain functions lead to strong cravings and a reduced ability to control one's actions. This foray into neuroscience will forever change the way you think about addiction.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Thad A. Polkwriter
Thad A. Polkactor

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