Study shows how addiction tricks brain

Exactly how the brain is tricked into addiction

through substance abuse has been found by researchers at Brigham Young

University and at the University of Toronto in Canada.

The breakthrough findings to be published online Friday in the prestigious

journal Science show that the protein in the brain that controls the release of

pleasure biochemicals induced by opiates in painkillers such as alcohol, heroin

and prescription drugs like OxyContin switch the brain into an addictive

state.

By injecting doses of the naturally occurring protein that controls the

release of dopamine in the brain, laboratory rats became "hooked," even without

any drugs, the researchers found.

In describing the process to the newspaper, BYU neuroscientist Scott

Steffensen said that while earlier research showing the protein that controls

the tap to the pleasure chemicals was involved in the release of dopamine, this

study showed for the first time how a brain-derived neurotrophic factor can be

switched on without drugs.

"This study shows pretty clearly that if we can understand how the brain's

circuitry changes in association with drug abuse, we can find ways to medically

counteract the effects of dependency," Steffensen said.

The pleasure response in the brain's reward circuitry is induced by normal

activity ranging from breathing in fresh spring morning air to doing well on a

test to eating your favorite food to sexual release.

When the response is constantly put into overdrive with depressants such as

alcohol or stimulants such as methamphetamine, the protein tap is turned wide

open and the pleasure response spikes.

"The value of the research is it reveals the mechanism behind drug