On Humans From Alcohol to Antidepressants: What Drugs Teach Us About Brain Chemistry ~ Judy Grisel
Oct 2, 2025
Judy Grisel, a neuroscientist and former addict, dives into the science of addiction and brain chemistry. She explores how dopamine shapes our desires and how substances like alcohol can sedate while rewarding. Grisel discusses the varied impacts of serotonin, contrasting SSRIs with psychedelics, and explains how modern behavioral addictions mirror drug-like effects. With hope for recovery, she emphasizes the importance of channeling cravings into positive pursuits and the empowering aspects of understanding addiction.
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SSRIs Lag; MDMA Floods Serotonin
- SSRIs block serotonin reuptake rapidly, but clinical mood improvement takes weeks due to slow neural rewiring.
- MDMA floods serotonin acutely by inducing massive release, producing immediate mood effects.
Psychedelics Open Plasticity, Not Craving
- Psychedelics act via serotonin 2A receptors and seem to open neuroplasticity rather than drive dopamine wanting.
- They quiet certain cells and free networks to rewire perception and break ruminative patterns.
Cannabinoids Sculpt Developing Brains
- The endocannabinoid system sculpts neurodevelopment and plasticity and is active in adolescence.
- Exogenous THC can transiently boost growth but later cause shrinkage if used excessively at vulnerable times.
