General Components of Addiction

"Universal" Action of Mesolimbic Reward Circuitry

Cognition

Addiction

Behavioral and substance addictions with similar underlying characteristics

"addiction does not exist as a dichotomic characteristic of “addicted” vs. “not addicted.” Instead, addiction is a process, and a gradual one at that"

Repeated patterns of behavior despite harmful consequences

Physiological and Behavioral Consequences

Withdrawal

Tolerance

Professional Incompetence

Loss of Relationships

Cravings

Learning - Feedback loop of reinforcing associations between stimuli and behavior

Attention

Cognitive components between substance addictions and behavioral addictions are similar

Impulsivity

Operant Conditioning

"cognition can be altered by drug use in the same way that any other rewarding stimuli alters cognition, for example through operant conditioning where drugs are positively reinforced and withdrawal acts as a negative reinforcement"

"It appears that, in terms of learning, the brain is likely acting as it should when presented with extremely rewarding stimuli (aka drugs or cues). Addiction, in this sense, is the transition of the reward system from a broad-based focus to a very small focus on a specific drug."

"Positive reinforcement and feedback that results in the continual cycle"

Much of the brain's attentional focus is placed on drug seeking behavior or cue-drug associated stimuli. The resource of attention cannot be alloted equally within the brain at one time, and so as attention is placed on the addiction, less attention is placed on other aspects of the individual's life

"addiction is almost always characterized by a few core behavioral and structural components. This is important to others because it highlights the universality of addiction, and that it does not require any specific drug to occur."

"Addiction can be thought of as an overly-dramatized caricature of the way that the brain integrates external and internal information to influence learned behaviors."

"cognition, specifically learning, not only suffers from addiction, but is absolutely required for addiction to take place. "

"Universal" Action of Mesolimbic Reward Circuitry

Brain Plasticity

Synaptic Pruning

Addictive behavior and cue-drug associations are enhanced by increased LTPs within the feedback loop of drug-seeking behavior, strengthening the connectivity of the harmful behavior patterns and decreasing the connectivity of other learned behavioral patterns

with adequate cue-behavior association and reinforcement, the process of addiction can occur amongst a vast variety of behaviors.

"While drugs affect the brain through a variety of different chemical actions, the core components and neural circuits of addiction are almost always present: learned behavior and the reward system of the brain. This is important because it allows for addiction, a phenomenon experienced extremely differently in regards to individual differences and drug-type, to be explained in terms of its core components."

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Withdrawal Symptoms can be irritating and painful, distracting the addict from daily life

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In attempting to remain abstinent, an addict has to consciously suppress cravings, constantly taking up attention and draining other resources that can be used for focus.

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Neurochemical Positive Reinforcement (Dopamine)

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Decision Making

Smaller Immediate Rewards Preffered

Larger Delayed Rewards Avoided

Nucleus Accumbens

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Addiction and Cognition - Argument

Universal Components of Addiction/Learning

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Pushing Back Against the "Disease Stereotype"

with adequate cue-behavior association and reinforcement, the process of addiction can occur amongst a vast variety of behaviors. In this sense, the potential to become addicted to something does not require direct access to “drugs of abuse,” but can arise in many forms.

This means that everyone with functioning reward circuitry has the potential to undergo addiction- no one is completely immune.

in opposition to the commonly held notion, addiction is not necessarily an inherently pathological process, but arises due to the way a normal brain’s learning system functions.

I hope that by illustrating addiction as a biologically-learned process, rather than an inherent characteristic, the audience conceptualize addiction in a way that benefits the stigma and treatment of addicts.

Relevance to General Audience

there are many subtle addictive tendencies that are less unrecognized throughout society. A few examples being caffeine addiction, food addiction, and especially internet/social media addiction. Another example that may be less recognized in the public is alcohol addiction, largely because of the lack of stigma that alcohol use receives compared to other drugs.

a comprehensive viewpoint of addiction allows for a more fluid learning process regarding a multitude of specific variations.

This information might also benefit those with addicted family or community members because it would provide them a greater understanding as of why an addicted individual act so “irrationally.” An outsider may see irrationality at play while a drug addict is being “told” by their own brain that their “irrational” actions are absolutely necessary.

describe addiction in a comprehensive yet condensed manner, so that the audience can gain a “big-picture” understanding of the phenomenon of addiction.

It seems to me that addiction is often spotlighted in the media in bits and pieces, with a main focus on specific types of addictions and their personal/societal consequences. This viewpoint, in my opinion, misses the important aspect that addiction is an inherently human process and not only causes harm to one’s physical health, but drastically distorts their perception of the world.

Relevance to addicts and their loved ones

those that are addicted may benefit from realizing the potential cognitive biases and deficiencies of addiction so that they can determine, with a greater accuracy, if they truly have an addiction.

Addicts can use this information to benefit their own lives by recognizing their altered cognition, thereby leaving little room to rationalize harmful decisions.

addictive tendencies can maneuver in and out of our lives without conscious harm or recognition, and sometimes only becomes a real issue after the addictive tendencies had been present for long periods of time. A greater comprehension of addiction may lead one to be able to recognize these tendencies earlier, before significant harm is done.

patterns of addiction are strengthened by cue-drug associations, matters to others because these associations form very fluidly and naturally, often out of our conscious perception. This means that addiction can come about very easily, of course depending on the individual’s genetics and behavior type.

no one is “immune” to becoming addicted- and therefore focus should be put on preventing addiction from causing harm in the first place. If people understand how addiction develops from the beginning, they may have a better chance of stopping it in its tracks.

Choosing without thinking