Drug craving is a key feature of addiction, driven by complex neural mechanisms involving reward and memory circuits. The mesolimbic dopamine pathway, particularly the nucleus accumbens, plays a central role in craving by reinforcing substance-related cues. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, often exhibits impaired functioning, making it difficult for individuals to resist urges. Additionally, the amygdala and hippocampus contribute by linking emotional and contextual triggers to past substance use experiences. Neuroimaging studies have revealed heightened activity in these brain regions during craving episodes, highlighting potential targets for interventions like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and pharmacotherapy to reduce craving intensity.
Title : The Storm Within: Neuropsychological Insights into Dysregulation and Substance Use in the Adolescent Brain.
Ann Marie Leonard Zabel, Curry College, United States
Title : Sexualizing anxiety and anxiolytic sex: Misattribution of arousal
Sam Vaknin, CIAPS, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Title : Workplace and occupational mental health: Supporting well-being at work
Sindu Padmanabhan, Bharathiar University, India
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Kayla Albers, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Resilience in counseling: Processing grief for the addictions counselor
Jorja Jamison, Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, United States
Title : Identity restoration as a missing variable in relapse prevention
Andrew Drasen, A Vision of Hope Media, United States