The Neuroscience of Addiction
In 1971, President Richard Nixon made his famous speech declaring war on drugs in America. Since then, American society has done everything in its power to stop this implacable foe. Finally in the 21st Century, neuroscience is advancing the tools needed to fight addiction. An incredible five part series, The Neuroscience of Addiction defines the brain's role in addiction, how drugs of abuse hijack the brain making us more susceptible to addictive behavior, how addictive behavior affects our brains, our lives and our entire culture and how breakthroughs in neuroscience are paving the way to new treatments for addiction.
- Title ID 130-NOA
- Science, Biology, Medicine
- 5 Programs
- 8 Supplemental Files
- 10th Grade through Post Secondary
- Published by Ambrose Video Publishing Inc./Centre Communications
Included Programs
Supplemental Files
Included Programs
The Human BrainRunning time is 29 minutes
Chapter List
- The Chemical Nature of the Brain
- This chapter, The Chemical Nature of the Brain, includes information on neurons, neurotransmitters, axons, dendrites, chemical messengers, excitatory neurotransmitters, glutamate, inhibitory neurotransmitters, gaba or gamma-aminobutyric acid.
- The Structure of the Brain
- Understanding how drugs affect the brain is one of the major challenges of the neuroscience of addiction and it involves understanding the brain's many structures, including the cerebrum, cerebral cortex, cerebrum, corpus callosum, hemispheres, cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area.
- Brain Systems
- This chapter, The Structure of the Brain, includes information on the somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, brain, spinal cord, excitatory transmitters and acetylcholine.
- Neuroimaging, Neuroplasticity and Higher Neural Substrates
- This chapter, Neuroimaging, Neuroplasticity and Higher Neural Substrates includes information on lesions, brain centers, functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI, MRI, neural networks, Wernicke's area, Broca's area, neuroplasticity, B.F. Skinner, James Olds, Peter Milner, the ventral tegmental area, the prefrontal cortex, the hypothalamus and the thalamus.
Drugs of AbuseRunning time is 29 minutes
Chapter List
- The History of Psychoactive Drugs
- This chapter, The History of Psychoactive Drugs, includes information on psychoactive drugs, opium, heroin, alcohol, marijuana, cannabis, THC, cannabidiol, codeine, morphine, cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine.
- The Effects of Psychoactive Drugs
- This chapter, The Effects of Psychoactive Drugs, includes information on stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, caffeine, amphetamine, alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, LSD, peyote, PCP, Psilocybin, nicotine, marijuana and antidepressants.
- The Addiction Effect
- This chapter, The Addiction Affect, includes information on withdrawal and co-dependence.
- Culture and Law
- This chapter, Culture and Law, includes information on Caffeine, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, recreational drugs and the stigma of drug addiction.
Drugs in the BrainRunning time is 29 minutes
Chapter List
- Animal Models
- This chapter, Animal Models, includes information on drugs of abuse, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, methamphetamines, ecstasy, James Olds, Peter milner, Robert Heath and animal research.
- The Pleasure Circuit
- This chapter, The Pleasure Circuit, includes information on the reward circuit, brain circuitry, the ventral tegmental area or VTA, dopamine, dopaminergic pathways, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.
- Neurotransmitters and Drugs of Abuse
- This chapter, Neurotransmitters and Drugs of Abuse, includes information on neurotransmitter, neurotransmitters, drugs of abuse, addictive behavior, synapses, heroin, opium, cocaine, cannabis, marijuana, neurotransmission, THC, anandamide, cannabinoid, alcohol, dopamine, GABA, gamma amino butyric acid and glutamate.
- Dopamine and Addiction
- This chapter, Dopamine and Addiction, includes information on the nucleus accumbens, neurotransmitters and the incentive salience hypothesis of addiction.
Overcoming AddictionRunning time is 29 minutes
Chapter List
- Addiction, Dependence and Tolerance
- This chapter, Addiction, Dependence and Tolerance, includes information on physical dependence, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and drugs of abuse.
- The Allure of Drugs of Abuse
- This chapter, The Allure of Drugs of Abuse, includes information on neurotransmitters, teen addiction, physical abuse, sexual abuse, the dorsal striatum, the nucleus accumbends, dendrites, neurons, marijuana, alcohol, prescription painkillers, cocaine, methamphetamines and ecstasy.
- Recovery and Treatments
- This chapter, Recovery and Treatments, includes information on drug therapy, light recreational users, heavy users, addicts, getting clean, withdrawal, the twelve step program, Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, and the harm reduction model.
Directions for the FutureRunning time is 29 minutes
Chapter List
- Beyond the Pleasure Circuit
- This chapter, Beyond the Pleasure Circuit, includes information on the pleasure circuit, reward circuit, mesolimbic dopamine pathway, pleasure pathway, ventral tegmental area or VTA, the nucleus accumbens, the limbic system, the prefrontal cortex, dopamine, the incentive salience hypothesis, the substantia nigra, the ventral striatum, the dorsal striatum, cortical basal ganglia thalamic circuitry, and drugs of abuse and the cortex.
- Process Addiction
- This chapter, Process Addiction, includes information on sex addition, gambling, eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, hoarding, attachment circuits, reward circuits, dopamine circuits and opioid circuits, behavioral addictions and non-substance related disorders.
- Challenges and Mysteries
- This chapter, Challenges and Mysteries includes information on addiction, the brain, neuroscience, PET scan or Positron Emission Tomography, environmental triggers, the incentive salience circuit, neurocircuitry, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and drug addiction.
Supplemental Files
- MARC Records for NOA
- MARC records for the series The Neuroscience of Addiction
- Educators Guide for The Neuroscience of Addiction
- Expert Citations for the Neuroscience of Addiction
- Transcription for The Human Brain
- Transcription for Drugs of Abuse
- Transcription for Drugs in the Brain
- Transcription for Overcoming Addiction
- Transcription for Directions for the Future