Neuroscience Home
In this section, we introduce some of the neuroscience research that lies at the foundation of our treatment model. All addictions act by "hijacking" the brain's reward system, a neural system that evolved to motivate and reward behaviors critical to survival and reproduction. Addictive patterns occur when we are inappropriately and unnecessarily thrown into "survival mode" – when the brain falsely believes that our survival is at risk although we are, in actuality, relatively safe. The neuroscience that underlies The Answer Model is explained further in our Books.
Basics of the Reward System
The primary components of the reward system are two brain regions called the nucleus accumbens and the ventral tegmental area. They are buried like two large seeds beneath the cerebral cortex, which covers the brain like a thick, folded sheet.
Neuroscientists refer to brain areas lying beneath the cortex as being "subcortical." Because the cerebral cortex is the seat of consciousness, or awareness, whenever we're conscious or aware of certain perceptions, thoughts, or actions, this consciousness generally arises from activity in the cerebral cortex. Anything that happens sub-cortically, or beneath the cortex, on the other hand, seems to almost always be unconscious – it occurs outside of our awareness.
If the reward areas – often called the "pleasure centers" of the brain – are being activated and rewarded, and then in turn signal areas in the cerebral cortex about the reward, we may become conscious of the reward and experience a feeling of pleasure. But if the core reward areas don't send a signal to the higher brain regions in the cerebral cortex, we may remain entirely unconscious that we've received a reward at all. Continue.
Neuroscientists refer to brain areas lying beneath the cortex as being "subcortical." Because the cerebral cortex is the seat of consciousness, or awareness, whenever we're conscious or aware of certain perceptions, thoughts, or actions, this consciousness generally arises from activity in the cerebral cortex. Anything that happens sub-cortically, or beneath the cortex, on the other hand, seems to almost always be unconscious – it occurs outside of our awareness.
If the reward areas – often called the "pleasure centers" of the brain – are being activated and rewarded, and then in turn signal areas in the cerebral cortex about the reward, we may become conscious of the reward and experience a feeling of pleasure. But if the core reward areas don't send a signal to the higher brain regions in the cerebral cortex, we may remain entirely unconscious that we've received a reward at all. Continue.
