Sound asleep – Learning while sleeping may indeed be a reality

Okay, so this recent study from Northwestern isn’t saying you can learn anything you want by simply playing it while you’re asleep. Still, it seems to give hope that some learning enhancement can occur while we’re napping.

Drug use memories and relapse: Can medication provide addiction help?

Originally posted on allaboutaddiction.com:
About a year ago, while sitting in a lecture on learning and memory, the idea that certain drugs can affect the emotional responses to memory long after the memory itself has been formed came up. As someone interested in addiction research, the implication for treatment immediately came up in my head:

Could we [...]

Healthcare savings and alcohol and drug abuse treatment: Saving lives and money

From allaboutaddiction:
A recent paper put out by an initiative called Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap (CATG) talks about some of the cost savings benefits that go along with alcohol and drug abuse treatment. The numbers refer to current treatment methods, success rates, etc., so the savings should only go up as we become more successful [...]

More money more problems? Rich teens, drugs, and other mental health issues

From allaboutaddiction.com:
Teens raised in affluent homes display the highest rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse according to a recent article in Monitor on Psychology, the APA’s monthly magazine.
One of our recent posts dealt with some of the issues unique to teens and drugs. In addition to the issues we’d already mentioned, the article named [...]

Disclose or not? The catch 22 of mental illness

A recent report published by SAMHSA addresses the issue of self-disclosure regarding mental illness.
Research has already shown that the more familiar people are with others who have different form of mental illness, the more their attitudes regarding mental illness will improve.
The problem is that in the process, those who self-disclose fear being ostracized, losing their [...]

Beta blockers, addiction, and craving help: The new holy grail?

From all-about-addiction:
Okay, maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself here, but I’m pretty excited about one study in particular that I heard about while in DC (for a Society For Neuroscience conference).
I’ve already written about a study by the renowned addiction researcher Barry Everitt showing that medications could be used in treatment to help [...]

It’s drug time – Circadian rhythms and addiction

From: all-about-addiction.com
Like most living creatures, humans have internal biological clocks known as circadian rhythms. These internal cycles synchronize our bodies with the Earth’s 24-hour day/night cycle and prepare us for predictable daily events (1). Circadian rhythms regulate a number of bodily functions including temperature, hormone secretion, bowel movements, and sleep (2). Well, recent research suggests [...]

Correlation, causation, or association – What does it all mean???

From all-about-addiction.com:
A comment posted by a reader on a recent post reprimanded me for suggesting that marijuana caused relationships to go bad. While in that instance the reader was mistaken, as I had specifically used the word associated, the comment made me think that maybe I should explain the differences here. I’m a scientist [...]

Drug memories and relapse: A light at the end of the tunnel?

From All About Addiction:
About a year ago, while sitting in a lecture on learning and memory, the idea that certain drugs can affect the emotional responses to memory long after the memory itself has been formed came up. As someone interested in addiction research, the implication for treatment immediately came up in my head:
Could we [...]

Politics and Proof – The misuse of science

It’s no secret that politicians can twist words to make anything sound as if it supports their agenda. There’s even a name for those who are good at this (and a 90s band with the same name) – Spin Doctors.
However, when scientific findings are misrepresented to support policies, what we get is ideological propoganda. It’s [...]