How Addiction Can Affect Brain Connections

Scientists at UMass Chan Medical School have found that addiction appears to permanently affect the connections between areas of the brain to almost “hard-wire” the brain to support the addiction. They are now investigating the role mindfulness can play in deactivating the part of the brain that experiences addiction. Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and psychiatry and director of research at the Center for Mindfulness; Joseph R. Difranza, MD, professor of family medicine & community health;Andrew R. Tapper, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and interim director of the Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute; and Jean A. King, associate provost for biomedical research and professor of psychiatry, are quoted in the story.
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