COMMENTS: This provides evidence for our theory of a binge cycle as described in our videos.
Here’s a quote:
The weight gain was due to both an increase in appetite and reduced calorie expenditure. This effect of insulin could constitute an evolutionary adaptation by the body to an irregular food supply and extended periods of hunger: if an excess supply of high-fat food is temporarily available, the body can lay down energy reserves particularly effectively through the action of insulin.
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Read More… from Research Mentioning the Binge-Trigger Concept
Finally, the American Society of Addiction Medicine has acted, since the DSM would not. The Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders work group for the upcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is currently discussing whether to demote the proposed “Hypersexual Disorder” (which addresses compulsive porn use, among other behaviors) from Sexual Dysfunctions to […]
Read More… from DSM-5 Attempts to Sweep Porn Addiction Under the Rug (2011)
COMMENTS: This an overview of the frontal cortex’s involvement in addiction. This part of the brain is all about planning and achieving goals. Changes in the frontal cortex leads to strong urges to take drugs. It’s as if you are starving, and you must eat no matter what. Changes also lead a steep decline in frontal lobe functioning during withdrawal. One is missing the drive to do normal everyday activity’s.
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Read More… from Addiction: A Disease of Compulsion and Drive Involvement of the Orbitofrontal Cortex (2000)
COMMENTS: You can read the lay articles below for a better understanding. As the conclusions say, those who score high on a food addiction test had brain responses to food similar to drug addicts response to drugs. The two similarities were: 1) Excessive activation of the reward circuitry we given cues (pictures of food) 2) […]
Read More… from Neural Correlates of Food Addiction (2011)
COMMENTS: This review is full of important addiction concepts and findings.The 2 main points – when sugar is given intermittently:
(1) rats it consume it like they would addictive drugs,
(2) the rats behavior and brains undergo changes that mimic substance abuse.
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Read More… from REVIEW – Evidence For Sugar Addiction: Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of Intermittent Excessive Sugar Intake (2008)
FULL STUDY: Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex Gray Matter Is Reduced In Abstinent Substance Dependent Individuals
Biol Psychiatry. 2009 January 15; 65(2): 160–164.
Published online 2008 September 18. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.07.030.
Jody Tanabe,1,2 Jason R. Tregellas,2 Laetitia Thompson,2 Manish Dalwani,2 Elizabeth Owens,1 Thomas Crowley,2 and Marie Banich2,3
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Read More… from Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex Gray Matter Is Reduced In Abstinent Substance Dependent Individuals (2009)
We can loosely define hypofrontality as a decline in frontal lobe functioning and metabolism. It’s one of the major brain changes caused by an addiction process. Hypo mean less than normal or deficient. Frontal refers to the frontal lobes, or prefrontal lobes. Alternately we can use the terms frontal cortex or prefrontal cortex also. However, […]
Read More… from Hypofrontality
The molecule Delta FosB appears to be the molecular switch for all addictions. Behavioral addictions and drug addictions share common mechanisms and result is similar brain changes. This makes perfect sense as drugs can only amplify or decrease existing physiological mechanisms. The molecule Delta FosB is a transcription factor, which means it turns genes on […]
Read More… from Delta FosB and Sexual Behavior
Pair bonding is a biological program not a cultural construct Despite a colorful array of cultural differences, humans everywhere fall in love, attach emotionally for long periods, and feel betrayed when mates are unfaithful. These behaviors are innate, not the products of random cultural influences. To make this point another way: Most mammals don’t tattoo […]
Read More… from Committed Relationship: You’re Wired For It (2011)
COMMENTS: Addicted brains not only suffer from decreased sensitivity to dopamine, but also less dopamine released in response to stimuli. FULL STUDY Nora D. Volkow, MD; Joanna S. Fowler, PhD; Gene-Jack Wang, MD; James M. Swanson, PhD; Frank Telang, MD Arch Neurol. 2007;64(11):1575-1579. ABSTRACT Imaging studies have provided new insights on the role of dopamine […]
Read More… from Dopamine in Drug Abuse and Addiction: Results of Imaging Studies and Treatment Implications (2007)