Alcoholism and Neuroimaging

Alcoholics may be able to benefit from neuroimaging in the future. Functional Imaging (an aspect of neuroimaging) is a process whereby the processes of the brain functions can be seen and therefore studied.

The idea as I understand it is to study the reward process (a person drinks alcohol and gets the reward of feeling better; action = reward) to see if it can be adjusted or interfered with to stop the addiction or gain more control over it.

The ideal would be some sort of pill that alters the brain chemistry, blocking the addiction. That must be the holy grail of alcoholism treatment.

Neuroimaging may be able provide some clues as to how the action/reward process functions in the brain and therefore help to find a solution.

photo copyright camerge

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