The Addictive Brain
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The Addictive Brain
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Narrated by:
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Thad A. Polk
About this listen
Addiction is a problem that affects everyone - even if we haven't experienced addiction ourselves, we all know someone who has. Unfortunately many sources of information about addiction seem inaccessible or irrelevant because they present vague or false science, they present accurate science in an excessively complicated way, or they are more moralistic than informative.
Addiction is sometimes viewed as a failure of character or will or morality. But neuroscience offers a very different picture - one that can inform how we, as individuals and as a society, treat addicts and the problems caused by addiction. These 12 eye-opening lectures will show you that addiction is a scientifically understandable problem that has its origins in neurobiology and genetics.
The Addictive Brain is a fair and balanced investigation of addiction, backed by hard science and behavioral science. Most of us have probably seen the old antidrug commercial in which an actor compares your brain on drugs to an egg sizzling in a hot frying pan. That's a powerful image, but it doesn't tell us what actually happens when drugs enter your body and interact with neurochemical processes.
Professor Polk gives you a comprehensive but concise survey of addiction and the major drugs of abuse, highlighting the differing neurological effects of stimulants, opioids, and more. He also delves into the world of behavioral addictions, such as gambling and compulsive video gaming, which, neurologically, operate very similarly to drug addiction. This course will clearly and compassionately inform you on what addiction means scientifically, socially, and behaviorally.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2015 The Great Courses (P)2015 The Teaching Company, LLCListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about The Addictive Brain
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- heidi monro
- 03-12-18
Fantastic
Wonderful information so interesting unable to stop listening! helps understand many situations and people in our families friends colleagues and community
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- J. Carrel
- 18-08-20
Excellent - well worth listening
The content was presented in an easy to understand manner yet not dumbed down.
The presenter (nice voice, good pace) refreshed our memories for certain facts/ points so we didn't have to go back to a previous chapter to remind ourselves what it meant.
The content was broken down into sections that made sense and the accompanying PDF of the salient points is very helpful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- chatbear1
- 05-02-16
a good lidten
Although a bit repefatave ,this was the authors point.all addiction have the same points.my intetetest was keptefin the subect well,with the quality of delivery
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- Mister Peridot
- 25-04-18
Addiction 101
Great set of lectures as others have noted. Deals with the science of addiction in general as well as the specifics of various legal & illegal substances including coffee, booze and tobacco. Prof. Polk has an excellent style, cheerful, clear and in no way patronising. He's obviously genuinely interested in the subject and seems keen to communicate his knowledge to the rest of us. There is a bit of science here, receptors, neurotransmitters and the like, but Polk keeps it to a minimum, concentrating instead on what the actual effects of drugs are on your mind & body and how you can best deal with any addictions you may be suffering from. Another great set of lectures from the Great Courses.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Michael
- 03-09-17
Excellent
Really well-paced series of lectures with a compassionate look at addiction from a thoroughly-researched scientific perspective. While not hugely detailed on methods for overcoming addiction, the overall learnings from this course could definitely help anyone trying to understand the sources of their compulsive behaviours. Professor Polk has a calm and clear way of speaking and he was a pleasure to listen to. Thanks
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2 people found this helpful
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- Mr Brian McAdam
- 10-12-23
A brilliant piece of education
Outstanding, I’ve never understood so much about myself. The only thing I couldn’t grasp was the non existence of an addictive personality but later chapters discuss the group of genes that can be found in some people which increase risk of addiction?
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- yenny f wakeham
- 24-02-18
Eye opener
Super informative. Extremely well presented. Clear, touching but objective. Everyone should be educated of the risks to which we are all exposed in a world of instant gratification.
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- Y. Baqouah
- 07-03-23
Little gem
Amazing course. Highly recommended and easy to understand . I will listen again. No more to say
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- Sometimes it's a Zebra 🦓
- 07-06-23
The Addictive Brain
This is very basic so only really for someone completely new to the concepts, psychological and neurological components of addiction. However it is a good and comprehensive overview for those unfamiliar with these topics.
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