Consider the following brain regions involved in addiction:

1. Basal Ganglia – Processes rewards and reinforces behaviors linked to pleasure, making substance use compulsive.

2. Amygdala – Governs stress responses and withdrawal-related negative emotions, driving continued substance use.

3. Prefrontal Cortex – Controls decision-making and impulse control; its impairment leads to compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In News

• During Brain Awareness Week (March 10-16), neuroscientists emphasized the role of key brain regions in addiction, highlighting how neurobiological factors influence compulsive substance use and withdrawal.

Key Points

• Basal Ganglia: Includes the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), which plays a central role in reward processing and reinforcement of pleasurable behaviors like eating and social interaction. 
  • Addiction hijacks this system, making substance use compulsive by increasing dopamine and serotonin activity.
  • Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• Amygdala: Governs stress responses and negative emotions associated with withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and unease.
  • This explains why individuals continue substance use despite harmful consequences to avoid withdrawal discomfort.
  • Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and prioritization.
  • In addition, this region becomes impaired, leading to poor impulse control and continued substance use despite knowing its dangers.
  • This effect is more pronounced in adolescents, whose prefrontal cortex is still developing, making them particularly vulnerable to addiction.
  • Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• Addiction is not just a moral failing but a chronic brain disorder, influenced by genetics, environment, and brain neuroadaptations.
• Advances in neuroscience (MRI, PET scans) reveal structural and functional changes in the brain due to addiction. 
• Early intervention can prevent long-term brain damage and aid in recovery through neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to heal and adapt).