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Mostly_Harmless
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Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction 1
#21954675 - 07/17/15 03:00 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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http://news.berkeley.edu/2015/07/13/brain-addiction/
Quote:
 New study of mice finds that intellectual pursuits can make us more resistant to the lure of drugs
Challenging the idea that addiction is hardwired in the brain, a new UC Berkeley study of mice suggests that even a short time spent in a stimulating learning environment can rewire the brain’s reward system and buffer it against drug dependence.
Scientists tracked cocaine cravings in more than 70 adult male mice and found that those rodents whose daily drill included exploration, learning and finding hidden tasty morsels were less likely than their enrichment-deprived counterparts to seek solace in a chamber where they had been given cocaine.
“We have compelling behavioral evidence that self-directed exploration and learning altered their reward systems so that when cocaine was experienced it made less of an impact on their brain,” said Linda Wilbrecht, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at UC Berkeley and senior author of the paper just published in the journal, Neuropharmacology.
By contrast, mice who were not intellectually challenged and/or whose activities and diets were restricted, were eager to return to the quarters where they had been injected with cocaine for weeks on end.
“We know that mice living in deprived conditions show higher levels of drug-seeking behavior than those living in stimulating environments, and we sought to develop a brief intervention that would promote resilience in the deprived animals,” said study lead author Josiah Boivin, a Ph.D. student in neuroscience at UC San Francisco who conducted the research at UC Berkeley as part of his thesis work.
Drug abuse and addiction rank among the world’s more costly, destructive and seemingly insurmountable problems. Previous studies have found that poverty, trauma, mental illness and other environmental and physiological stressors can alter the brain’s reward circuitry and make us more susceptible to substance abuse.
The good news about this latest study is that it offers scalable interventions against drug-seeking behaviors, albeit through evidence based on animal behavior.
“Our data are exciting because they suggest that positive learning experiences, through education or play in a structured environment, could sculpt and develop brain circuits to build resilience in at-risk individuals, and that even brief cognitive interventions may be somewhat protective and last a relatively long time,” Wilbrecht said.
Intellectually challenged mice vs. deprived mice
Researchers compared the lure of drugs, specifically cocaine, in three sets of mice: The test or “trained” mice were put through a nine-day cognitive training program based on exploration, incentives and rewards while their “yoked-to-trained” counterparts received rewards but no challenges. The “standard-housed” mice stayed in their home cages with restricted diets and activities.
For a few hours each day, the trained mice and yoked-to-trained mice were set loose in adjacent chambers. The trained mice were free to explore and engage in enrichment activities, which included digging up Honey Nut Cheerios in a pot of scented wood shavings. The exercise kept them on their toes because the rules for how to find the treats would change on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, their yoked-to-trained counterparts received a Honey Nut Cheerio each time their trained partner hit the jackpot, but did not have to work for it. As for the standard-housed mice, they remained in their cages without enrichment opportunities or Honey Nut Cheerios. After the cognitive training phase of the experiment, all three sets of mice remained in their cages for a month.
Cocaine conditioning tests desire for drugs
Next, the mice were set loose, one by one, to explore two adjoining chambers in a plexiglass box, which differed from one another in smell, texture and pattern. The researchers recorded which chamber each mouse preferred and then set about changing their preference by giving them cocaine in the chamber that they had repeatedly not favored.
For the drug seeking test, the mice received mock injections, and were freed to explore both chambers for 20 minutes, using the open doorway to scamper back and forth. At first, all the mice overwhelmingly returned to the chamber where they had presumably enjoyed the cocaine. But in subsequent weekly drug seeking tests, the mice who had received cognitive training showed less preference for the chamber where they had been high on cocaine. And that pattern continued.
“Overall, the data suggest that deprivation may confer vulnerability to drug seeking behavior and that brief interventions may promote long-term resilience,” Wilbrecht said.
Denise Piscopo, an assistant professor at the University of Oregon and former member of Wilbrecht’s lab, is the third co-author on the paper.
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Nature Boy
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Mostly_Harmless] 1
#21954815 - 07/17/15 04:42 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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So, when you are bored, un-stimulated, and otherwise idle there's more likelihood you'll entertain yourself with a drug. There's a news flash for ya. 
Wonder how much $$$ they spent on the study that figured that out?
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HardTrippin
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Nature Boy]
#21955300 - 07/17/15 09:24 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nature Boy said: So, when you are bored, un-stimulated, and otherwise idle there's more likelihood you'll entertain yourself with a drug. There's a news flash for ya. 
Wonder how much $$$ they spent on the study that figured that out?
N.B.
Many people might have thought that while you'd be more likely to start using drugs if you were idle, once you started using it might not matter how busy a person you are. Coke is known as the business man's drug.
Not everyone wants to try these drugs to learn these things, and many don't want to just take the word of a drug user who only knows his own experiences and those of his friends.
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Cognitive_Shift
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Nature Boy]
#21956481 - 07/17/15 02:36 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nature Boy said: So, when you are bored, un-stimulated, and otherwise idle there's more likelihood you'll entertain yourself with a drug. There's a news flash for ya. 
Wonder how much $$$ they spent on the study that figured that out?
N.B.
There is a respected theory which indicates addiction is genetic. This evidence points towards something else also being involved.
Science is finally catching up in the evidence dept.
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Nature Boy
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#21957601 - 07/17/15 07:32 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Yeah, there was a recent study which tied blue eyes to a higher incidence of alcohol abuse. Who the hell knows... 
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space walk
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Nature Boy]
#21960217 - 07/18/15 11:51 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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I think yall are interpreting the test wrong. They were given training that involved rewards based on effort they put forth, then, they were deprived of that personal reward system for a month. Basically, they all would have been "bored and idle," by the time the cocaine trials started, but some of the mice, the ones with a background in putting forth effort to recieve a positive mental reward of gratification, were less likely to continue using the drugs, presumably due to the idea they enjoyed the gratification of putting forth an effort to recieve their final reward. When I was in HS, I remember that seeking drugs, working hard not to get caught, and putting forth all of the effort it took just to do the drugs in the first place was just as much fun as the final reward I got from finally being high. Now that I have access to any drug, money for any drug, and a safe place to do any drug, it's just not the same. Now, drugs are still fun, but I don't do them anywhere near as much as I did when I had to work for it. The mice that were given no background in gratification derived from hard work feel that the best thing in life is the drug. Mental slavery due to a lack of education, one might say.
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Knowledge is the best gift; it's fun to obtain, free to give, and priceless to receive.
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roquet
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: space walk]
#21962310 - 07/18/15 08:37 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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One month for a mouse is equivalent to 3 years for a human being. And 9 days (the length of their intellectually stimulating work-for-reward training) is equivalent to 11 months for humans. So it's interesting how the training still influenced their behavior a long time after it finished. On the other hand, the training period was quite long for a mouse.
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fapjack
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Mostly_Harmless]
#21962598 - 07/18/15 10:03 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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I'm shocked by these findings...
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CLIT
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Mostly_Harmless]
#21963397 - 07/19/15 03:01 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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the title of the thread does that mean that amphetamine users usually are not prone to addiction due to it being a smart drug/for studying i.e. "intellectual pursuits" (unless one uses it recreationally)?
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fapjack
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: CLIT]
#21963665 - 07/19/15 07:16 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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No, mice would rather be quasi-free and sober than in prison and on cocaine.
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space walk
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: fapjack]
#21964821 - 07/19/15 12:52 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
fapjack said: No, mice would rather be quasi-free and sober than in prison and on cocaine.
Wouldn't we all? Lol
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Knowledge is the best gift; it's fun to obtain, free to give, and priceless to receive.
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fapjack
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: space walk]
#21974573 - 07/21/15 07:30 AM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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It's why it's a stupid study.
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Cognitive_Shift
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: fapjack]
#21977715 - 07/21/15 09:28 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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At least there's physical evidence to go along with the common sense, instead of it just being an assumption. You gotta start somewhere
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CLIT
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Cognitive_Shift]
#23212684 - 05/11/16 01:07 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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The way I interpreted the title of the thread is that anyone who uses an addictive drug, NOT for the sake of it (recreationally) but to function on it (academically, professionally, intellectually, etc.) WILL NOT get addicted to the said drug. Is this about right?
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QT3BFLEE
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: CLIT]
#23215234 - 05/11/16 06:31 PM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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I've had a penchant for investing much personal time into the pursuit of intellectual knowledge related to drugs for over 10 years. Hasn't helped one bit for my addictive behaviors. This study is all lies!
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Glameow


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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: QT3BFLEE]
#23216789 - 05/12/16 03:15 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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I don't understand why people are bashing this study.
Yes, it's obvious to us...drug users...with our own evidence and experience of it in aa real life scenario.
However, It's not obvious to long since brainwashed society. A society that was told and taught and made believe that one take of a drug and you're an addict. A society that still believes once an addict always an addict.
This study challenges that. And that makes it important progress in understanding the role of addiction and challenging the status quo in relation to the drug war.
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Cactiphile
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: QT3BFLEE]
#23216838 - 05/12/16 03:51 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
CLIT said: The way I interpreted the title of the thread is that anyone who uses an addictive drug, NOT for the sake of it (recreationally) but to function on it (academically, professionally, intellectually, etc.) WILL NOT get addicted to the said drug. Is this about right?
No. Your interpretation could not be more wrong. you would probably been more prone to addiction if you needed drugs to 'function' in your everyday tasks.
Quote:
QT3BFLEE said: I've had a penchant for investing much personal time into the pursuit of intellectual knowledge related to drugs for over 10 years. Hasn't helped one bit for my addictive behaviors. This study is all lies!
Idiot.
I dont think this implies your need to use drugs to study or your study of drugs will protect you from addiction. It simply implies that using your brain makes you less likey to want addiction.
Theres no physical protection from addiction. Its all about the way you think. Or in this case, how much you think.
And cocaine is known as the businessmans drug because of the high price and short duration. Because people who work hard for a successful career understand they cant get blown out of their minds for 24 hours at a time and expect to keep a job.
There's time for drugs and time to get shit done. Unfortunately most drug users dont understand the difference between use and abuse.
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CLIT
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Cactiphile]
#23220814 - 05/13/16 12:34 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Great. Let me reinterpret it all over again...
If one is using drugs to "function" (so they think like an alcoholic per say), then yes they would be more prone to addiction, BUT if they know they're using drugs for "intellectual pursuits" (i.e. to study for the huge test tomorrow so let's pop some Adderall XR), then I'd think the addiction potential is lower than for those who don't know what this medicine is about. I knew a girl who was on Adderall XR before and she was shocked when I mentioned that it is an amphetamine! LOL. I told her I am on amphetamine, she gave me dirty looks, I told her that so was Adderall! She had no idea what it was she was on when she was a kid!
The study of drugs should make one be more aware of its addiction function therefore one is aware of it compared to the clueless "party goers" who will snort anything because "it's good" yet they have no clue what dopamine is.
SO technically the more you know about the drug, the more you'd be aware of its potential to be addicted to it (which is good knowledge). And the more you know what its side effects are and why you want to pop more of it. Let's say it's known that meth can make my dick shrink, would I still use it? Nope. Since I know what Dexedrine and Vyvanse is all about; I'm least concerned about these due to my knowledge of what these drugs are about.
So the title of the thread; "Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction" as I interpreted it to mean that when one wants to use drugs to get harder, better, faster, stronger (Daft Punk song lol), then it won't be as addicting as to when just a "junkie" is only using it for that "junkie high", not an "intellectual high".
Quote:
australian_dream said:
Quote:
CLIT said: The way I interpreted the title of the thread is that anyone who uses an addictive drug, NOT for the sake of it (recreationally) but to function on it (academically, professionally, intellectually, etc.) WILL NOT get addicted to the said drug. Is this about right?
No. Your interpretation could not be more wrong. you would probably been more prone to addiction if you needed drugs to 'function' in your everyday tasks.
Quote:
QT3BFLEE said: I've had a penchant for investing much personal time into the pursuit of intellectual knowledge related to drugs for over 10 years. Hasn't helped one bit for my addictive behaviors. This study is all lies!
Idiot.
I dont think this implies your need to use drugs to study or your study of drugs will protect you from addiction. It simply implies that using your brain makes you less likey to want addiction.
Theres no physical protection from addiction. Its all about the way you think. Or in this case, how much you think.
And cocaine is known as the businessmans drug because of the high price and short duration. Because people who work hard for a successful career understand they cant get blown out of their minds for 24 hours at a time and expect to keep a job.
There's time for drugs and time to get shit done. Unfortunately most drug users dont understand the difference between use and abuse.
Edited by CLIT (05/13/16 01:28 AM)
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Cactiphile
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: CLIT]
#23220932 - 05/13/16 01:35 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thats all well and good.
But some one using as a true recreation is less likely to form addiction then someone who feels they need drugs to complete their everyday tasks. But it goes without saying that you should know what drugs your taking and the effects of said drugs...
but no, using drugs for beneficial purposes is not less likely to be addictive because you can still form addiction to the use of drugs, not just a specific substance.
Using your brain is beneficial in the sense that if your able make observations and form your own conclusions, your drug use probably wont become an addiction.
Use and abuse man. using amphetamine to help with concentration or for a little more energy might work fine and be what its intended for but if your using it everyday your still going to form a dependence.
Train your brain to do something that doesnt involve drug use.
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CLIT
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: Cactiphile]
#23220941 - 05/13/16 01:38 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Unless someone's daily tasks is using recreational drugs...
Quote:
australian_dream said: Thats all well and good.
But some one using as a true recreation is less likely to form addiction then someone who feels they need drugs to complete their everyday tasks. But it goes without saying that you should know what drugs your taking and the effects of said drugs...
but no, using drugs for beneficial purposes is not less likely to be addictive because you can still form addiction to the use of drugs, not just a specific substance.
Using your brain is beneficial in the sense that if your able make observations and form your own conclusions, your drug use probably wont become an addiction.
Use and abuse man. using amphetamine to help with concentration or for a little more energy might work fine and be what its intended for but if your using it everyday your still going to form a dependence.
Train your brain to do something that doesnt involve drug use.
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Cactiphile
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Re: Intellectual pursuits may buffer the brain against addiction [Re: CLIT]
#23220991 - 05/13/16 01:55 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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recreation1 ˌrɛkrɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ noun activity done for enjoyment when one is not working ^ hence business mans drug.
Of coarse one can form dependence from daily drug use. Its obvious your having a hard time with the observation and conclusions part.
Ill make it easy. If you have something to do besides drugs all day then your going to be less likely to want to get addicted.
Doing stuff that doesnt involve drugs=good. Doing drugs all day everyday=bad.
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