Nicotine addiction remains one of the most persistent public health challenges worldwide, driven by changes in the brain that ...

It is frequently said that addiction occurs when drugs “hijack” the brain. It’s hard to nail down what that means, but it does rightly suggest that there is an involuntary takeover of the brain that ...

New research shows that astrocytes play an active role in nicotine-induced brain changes, challenging the long-held ...

Within the brain, chemical neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine regulate mood, emotions and many physiological and behavioral processes. Their imbalance can contribute to anxiety, ...

A large-scale analysis of nearly 1,900 children found that those with a family history of substance use disorder show early differences in how their brains transition between activity states, long ...

Scientists have found that the process of adaptive myelination, which helps the brain learn new skills, can also promote addiction to opioids. Our brains, even in adulthood, continually adapt to what ...

This article is part of a Health Affairs Forefront series titled “New Challenges for Health Care.” The series of articles focuses on emerging issues that are facing decision makers at provider ...

The nucleus accumbens is a tiny element of the human brain triggered when we experience something enjoyable, and used to help ...

Excessive gaming disrupts teens' sleep, school, and social lives. An expert from Stanford's Youth Recovery Clinic shares ...

Betty faces a seemingly simple choice between an apple and a donut. But as we'll soon discover, the brain's decision-making process is far from straightforward. Betty is standing before the healthy ...