Brain Function and Addiction: 4 Ways It Impacts Us - Essay Sample

Introduction

The brain is a very multifaceted and dynamic organ in our bodies. It is proper functioning is key to our living. Hence when the brain works well, we tend to get well with our surroundings also. However, contrastingly, it is the brain's capacity that gives rise to addiction through its adaptive response to the drugs (Gordon, 2016). Therefore this paper provides a more detailed discussion on how addiction affects the normal functioning of the human brain in four significant ways. These include alliterating the brain chemistry, which causes changes to the brain's homeostasis, interrupts the brain's information patterns, and causes alteration to brain organizations and their performance.

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Effects to Homeostasis

Addiction affects the crucial biological process known as homeostasis. According to scientists, the human body is taken to be the biological system, and all of the biological systems tend to maintain balance. Therefore the brain acts as the controller of the balance since it makes various alterations to make sure there is a well balanced and functioning of the biological system. The normal balance of each person is individually determined, and therefore drug abuse and addictions may lead to the change of this normal balance.

Severe over stimulation of the brain that happens during addiction hinders the maintenance of homeostasis. Furthermore, in the case of the brain struggle in regulating balance, the adaptive brain makes necessary alterations by the creation of a set point known as allostasis. However, in a different aspect, the brain's purpose of being adaptive through allostasis leads to the critical alterations of the functioning of the brain. Thus these changes account for many behavioral changes that are related to addiction, such as the compelling urge for one to obtain or keep using the drug despite harming his body, facing challenges in withdrawing from the use of the drug and also being obsessed by the drug (Gordon, 2016). Hence this may be because addiction caused the brains to change and accommodate habit.

Alters the Brain Chemistry

Understanding the brain's chemistry, one has to know more about how the communication system works in mind. Human beings have got five senses (touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell) that collects and convey information about our environment. Therefore our brains are responsible for the processing and analyzing of the data as it relies on the necessary electrochemical process for communication (Pollan, 2019). Thus the brain's information system allows particular sections of the mind to communicate with other brain sections frequently. Thus the connection is achieved by the brain through the interconnection of specialized cells known as the neurons. Neurons are the one which lays the basis for an electrochemical communication system. Furthermore, the communication system of the brain is essential to the health of a human being well being and the overall functioning of the body. Therefore when this system is interrupted, it automatically affects us.

Thus as the communication system of the brain is changing, and it allows us to be able to remember and adapt to our changing circumstances. Addiction from drug abuse is much known to have a significant impact on altering and interrupting the communication system in the human brain.

Addiction Changes the Communication Patterns of The Brain

The communication system conveys the information via several interconnected networks that are in connection with the neuron. Which is later developed into pathways through which the brain sends signals between the neural pathways. Which are regularly used by the brain, and thus they are the usual routes for shipping of the information from the brain. However, if the paths are blocked or interfered with, the mind will be forced to form new pathways. Therefore new neural routes are created as a result of addiction (Gordon, 2016). Due to the alteration of the brain's information system, and thus, when a person is taking a drug, the mind responds through forming new neural routes. Thus interfering with the performance of the mind.

Addiction Alters the Brain Structure and their Performance

The brain is known to be composed of several regions and many different structures. However, the communication system of the brain allows different sections and organizations to synchronize their activities (Pollan, 2019). Furthermore, each of the parts of the section of the brain and structures has varying roles that it plays. Therefore addiction is thought to alter all of these sections, as it changes the way the brain region works. The joint effects of addiction to the brain regions are the issues that are related to compromised decision making, compulsivity and impulsivity, habit development, drug-seeking and craving.

However, in brain addiction and withdrawal, which is a result of drug addiction, the brain is thought to gift itself through encouraging drug addiction (Pollan, 2019). Thus it makes an individual be in the cycles of the highs and lows and hence the expression of depression and desperation without the drugs. And if a person seizes from taking drugs, there will be harsh consequences as a result of the action on mental and physical expression. As a result, the brain is affected as the stimulation of the neurotransmitters in the brain is reduced.

References

Pollan, M. (2019). How to change your mind: What the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression, and transcendence. Penguin Books.

W Gordon, H. (2016). Laterality of brain activation for risk factors of addiction. Current drug abuse reviews, 9(1), 1-18.