Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi I would really appreciate any info. I realize that doing a project on addicting substances is probably not safe or probable, I was wondering if you could lead me to find more information on studies and experiments that have already been done or if you could help me know what the best idea of where to get info would be. Im really interested in the brain. If someone could help and quick, that would be awesome! Thank you!

Oh and if you know more about the hedonic set tone that would be great. Again, I am fascinated with the brain and how people think. I actually mean any kind of addiction and more about how to study that and how it effects the brain.
Thank you!

This article:
The role of the striatopallidal and extended amygdala systems in drug addiction
by Koob GF
Department of Neuropharmacology,
CVN-7, Scripps Research Institute,
La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci 1999 Jun 29; 877:445-60 (That journal title is probably 'Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences')

...seems to be a classic in the field. If you can't find it online, you may need to go to a university library and ask them to get it for you.

Here's a news article from the Scripps Institute on the topic: http://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_2 ... ction.html .

The best place for you to get information would be from your local university library. Speak to a librarian there, and I am sure that they would be happy to help you find lots of information about addiction.

As for science projects, you are right--you probably will not be allowed to do a project on drug addiction. But, there are other forms of addiction you might be able to work with. Here is a Science Buddies project on video game addiction: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p017.shtml, and here is one on quitting smoking: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ?from=Home . Note that you might need special permissions from your science fair to do projects on humans, so speak to your teacher if you decide to do one of these.

Also, you might consider getting a mentor who works with addictions to do a more advanced project. Take a look at Science Buddies' advanced project guide, on this page: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... l?From=Tab for more information.

Good luck!

BTW - this is out of the realm of this forum, but if this is to be the title of your project, it's Affect, not Effect.

Stephanie

The pleasure center or reward pathway in the brain, which is implicated in addiction, is the nucleus accumbens. Other areas which are also important in brain reward include the amygdala and the ventral tegmental area (VTA).