For the Brain, some activities are very similar to Drugs
Think_n_See
Why do I find these topics fascinating? And what does this have to do
with Happiness? There is a group of activities that are as far as the
Brain is concerned very similar to drugs. Typically, the happiness
receptors go off in the brainn when certain activities happen. Here
are some activities that influence the brain in the same areas as drugs
do.
1) Sometimes Addiction to EXERCISE
* When not allowed to exercise after a week's worth of consecutive days
of exercise, mice had specific brain reactions. Brain imaging of mice
showed that the same parts of their brains were activated as in drug
withdrawal (nicotine or cocaine withdrawal for mice).
(http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20060509_SM_Exercise_Addiction.html,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3253258.stm)
.
2) STARTING and BREAKING UP in a Romantic Relationship
* When MRI brain images of people in love are viewed, the part of the
brain activated is the same as the part activated from drugs.
(http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=526178)
* When people break up, the area of the brain most activated is the
romantic center, surprisingly, leading to what resaercher Aron called
the frustration-attraction effect of having had someone break up wiht
that person.
(http://soundingcircle.com/newslog2.php/__show_article/_a000195-000703.htm)
.
(This isn't an activity linked to drug-withdrawal, this is an activity
linked to drug taking)
3) TRADING in Finance
* Getting into a risky trade actiates the same part of the brain as
drugs.
(http://www.bloomberg.com/media/markets/neurofinance.pdf)
(It may be interesting further research to see what happens when a
person is allowed to trade on consecutive days, and then one day is no
longer allowed to trade - will it be like the exercise mice? Will we
see symptoms of drug withdrawl?)
da5zeay
gamblers, or extreme sports having the same kind of activation in the
brain? I wonder if it's related to finding the root of one's passion.