Rewiring Your Dopamine Systems with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Anna Lembke

Can you get addicted to anything? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly explore the science of addiction, dopamine pathways, and what social media is doing to our brains with psychiatrist and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, Anna Lembke, MD.

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Is there such a thing as an addictive personality? We talk about what triggers the release of dopamine and how the reward pathway works. Is love a form of addiction? Learn about maladaptive consumptive behavior, using addiction as coping, and the idea of “drug of choice.” How do we all differ in our addictions?

How do you deal with addiction from a scientific standpoint? We discuss addictions that may be accepted by mainstream society. What happens if you stop making dopamine? Learn about Parkinson’s disease and treatment, and how ADHD impacts a person's relationship to dopamine.

Find out about modern addictions like gambling and social media addictions. What can we do to prevent addiction in the face of increased access? How do you ensure the security of the mind in different age groups? How do you prevent kids from getting addicted to social media and technology? We explore the impacts of social media on children and adults: are we hardwired to crave more extreme content?

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Introduction: Addiction
03:30 - Can You Have an Addictive Personality?
05:50 - The Role of Dopamine
12:44 - Drug of Choice
14:25 - Risk Factors & Stressors
16:56 - Treating Addictions
20:30 - What Can You Get Addicted To?
25:15 - Dopamine Fasting & Deficits
32:12 - Modern Addiction: Gambling
34:34 - Why Is Social Media So Addictive?
37:08 - Protecting The Next Generation
47:18 - Are We Hardwired For Extreme Content?