When we talk about drug addiction, we often focus on behavior or the chemistry of "feeling good." But beneath the surface, there is a complex battle happening in the brain’s immune system. Interestingly, this battle doesn’t look the same for everyone. For years, we have noticed that men and women face different challenges with cocaine use disorders, from how quickly they become addicted to how easily they escalate their use and relapse. In our recent study, we uncovered a pot

Nicotine withdrawal is often the biggest hurdle for people trying to quit smoking, yet we still don't fully understand how the brain's internal communication networks change when the drug is removed. Our latest research, published in eNeuro , used advanced whole brain imaging to reveal that nicotine withdrawal doesn't just affect one area; it triggers a massive reorganization of two major cholinergic systems that act as long range hotlines for brain communication. The Questio

The complexity of addiction is often hidden within the intricate wiring of our brains. In our latest book chapter, a collaboration with researchers at UC San Diego and Miami University, we dive deep into the specific circuits of the amygdala to understand how they drive the three stages of addiction: binge and intoxication, withdrawal and negative affect, and preoccupation and anticipation. The Question: How Do Amygdalar Circuits Drive Addiction? The amygdala is not a single