A recent study found that creating a stimulating learning environment may rewire the brain’s reward system and help protect against addiction. Mice that had a daily routine of exploration, learning and finding hidden treats were less likely to spend time in a chamber where they had been given cocaine, as compared to mice who didn’t do these activities.
Scientists at the University of California-Berkeley say cocaine use made less of an impact on the brains of mice who participated in self-directed exploration and learning. The study, published in Neuropharmacology, challenges the idea that addiction is hardwired in the brain. The mice that were not intellectually challenged or who had restricted activities and diets were eager to return to the chamber where they had been continually injected with cocaine. Although the study was animal based, scientists say the findings suggest that positive learning experiences in a structured environment may help build resilience in at-risk individuals.
