Introduction
1. Neuroplasticity in general
Neuroplasticity is defined as changes in neuron circuits resulting from experience. The brain can be seen as a network of neurons as neurons are connected by thousands of synapses. Our brains make and break the connections between neurons in response to outside stimulation and this action gives us unlimited potential to change both structurally and functionally. For example, the size of the structure in our brains might change because of some outside stimulations. Functionally, one structure may become more active than before when being exposed to a certain environment. And our behaviors will also change as a result of learning. Because of neuroplasticity, the connections between certain neurons become …show more content…
1 & 2). In this task, participants were shown a double-lined star and asked to trace it within the lines as quickly as possible. Other than simply tracing the lines, participants could only view the star in the mirror, which increased the difficulty of the task. Because of the mirror, participants always did very poorly on their first trials; however, the results showed that they did significantly better after 10 trials. From the perspective of neuroplasticity, we can see that people’s behaviors change after continuous practice. Scientists believe that changes in behaviors are always related to changes in the brain: in this case, the brain realized the difficulty of tracing the lines in the first trial, so it started to reconnect its neurons and formed a new neural network. Therefore, participants’ behaviors changed and did much better in later trails after being exposed to the practice stimulation for a long …show more content…
Because of the dependence, people change in their behaviors as a result of structural and functional change in their brains. There are lots of substances that cause drug addiction: alcohol, opiates, cocaine, nicotine, etc. In this study, we will mainly research alcoholism, but other substances will also be referenced.
3.1 The difference between drug dependence and drug addiction
To clarify the subject of this research, it is necessary to understand the difference between drug dependence and drug addiction. Usually, people define “dependence” as physical dependence on a substance while defining “addiction” as changes in behaviors due to the biochemical changes in the brain (Frances, Miller & Mack, 2005). In this research, our subject is drug addiction. While examining the physical and psychological change brought by drug abuse, we will test how autonomic nervous system and the reward system are involved in drug addiction.
3.2 Stage of drug
1. Neuroplasticity in general
Neuroplasticity is defined as changes in neuron circuits resulting from experience. The brain can be seen as a network of neurons as neurons are connected by thousands of synapses. Our brains make and break the connections between neurons in response to outside stimulation and this action gives us unlimited potential to change both structurally and functionally. For example, the size of the structure in our brains might change because of some outside stimulations. Functionally, one structure may become more active than before when being exposed to a certain environment. And our behaviors will also change as a result of learning. Because of neuroplasticity, the connections between certain neurons become …show more content…
1 & 2). In this task, participants were shown a double-lined star and asked to trace it within the lines as quickly as possible. Other than simply tracing the lines, participants could only view the star in the mirror, which increased the difficulty of the task. Because of the mirror, participants always did very poorly on their first trials; however, the results showed that they did significantly better after 10 trials. From the perspective of neuroplasticity, we can see that people’s behaviors change after continuous practice. Scientists believe that changes in behaviors are always related to changes in the brain: in this case, the brain realized the difficulty of tracing the lines in the first trial, so it started to reconnect its neurons and formed a new neural network. Therefore, participants’ behaviors changed and did much better in later trails after being exposed to the practice stimulation for a long …show more content…
Because of the dependence, people change in their behaviors as a result of structural and functional change in their brains. There are lots of substances that cause drug addiction: alcohol, opiates, cocaine, nicotine, etc. In this study, we will mainly research alcoholism, but other substances will also be referenced.
3.1 The difference between drug dependence and drug addiction
To clarify the subject of this research, it is necessary to understand the difference between drug dependence and drug addiction. Usually, people define “dependence” as physical dependence on a substance while defining “addiction” as changes in behaviors due to the biochemical changes in the brain (Frances, Miller & Mack, 2005). In this research, our subject is drug addiction. While examining the physical and psychological change brought by drug abuse, we will test how autonomic nervous system and the reward system are involved in drug addiction.
3.2 Stage of drug