E99: Why We Can Never Drink Again (Neuroplasticity and Permanent Changes)
Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober
00:00
Dopamine Released in Sobriety
When we drink alcohol, dopamine is released in our reward center and it creates a memory of the pleasure you felt. Dopamine is a motivational chemical and the next time you encounter the same cue, dopamine is release to motivate you to seek out alcohol. With repetitive drinking, our brain builds out an association for earlier and earlier cues. A 2020 study raised mice to become addicted to alcohol by getting an alcohol reward every time they pressed a lever. The second form of neuroplasticity is compulsive drug seeking behavior. This develops after long term reinforcement of a drug. All and other drugs change our brain and researchers believe these changes are permanent.
Play episode from 05:29
Transcript
