Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Peter Steadman on 13/04/2014 11:46:59

Title: Is a rat pushing a lever for brain stimulation an addiction?
Post by: Peter Steadman on 13/04/2014 11:46:59
Peter Steadman asked the Naked Scientists:
   
That experiment when the pleasure receptors in rats' brains were hard-wired to be stimulated when the rat pushed a button: the rat would push the button and completely neglect food and end up dead as a result.

Is that a form of addiction?

What do you think?
Title: Re: Is a rat pushing a lever for brain stimulation an addiction?
Post by: dlorde on 14/04/2014 23:39:00
It could be called a behavioural addiction; a recurring compulsion to do some activity despite seriously harmful consequences. It's not so different from certain drug addictions, except that it presumably lacks the severe physiological withdrawal effects of some drugs.