Addiction is a complex and multifaceted condition that encompasses physiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Advancements in human neuroscience have begun to unravel the intricate neural mechanisms underlying addictive behaviors. These insights are crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. This Research Topic seeks to explore the latest findings in the neuroscience of addiction, focusing on the neurobiological underpinnings and their implications for treatment and rehabilitation. Despite significant progress, addiction continues to pose a formidable challenge to healthcare systems globally. Current research has highlighted the role of neural circuitry, neurotransmitter systems, and genetic factors in addiction, yet gaps remain in translating these findings into practical interventions. Ongoing debates center around the best approaches to integrate neurobiological insights with clinical practices, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the neural processes involved in addiction and recovery.
This research topic aims to address the pressing need for an in-depth understanding of the neurobiological processes involved in addiction. By fostering a comprehensive collection of research, we aim to bridge the gap between neuroscientific discoveries and practical treatment applications. Potential solutions lie in translating these neural insights into innovative interventions and therapies. Our objective is to assemble contributions that not only elucidate the neural circuitry and molecular pathways implicated in addiction but also propose novel, evidence-based treatment approaches that can be implemented in clinical settings.
To gather further insights into the neuroscience of addiction, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Neural circuitry and neurotransmitter systems involved in addictive behaviors.
- Genetic and epigenetic factors influencing susceptibility to addiction.
- Advances in neuroimaging techniques to study addiction in humans.
- The role of neuroplasticity in both the development of addiction and recovery processes.
- Neurobiological effects of various substances of abuse, including but not limited to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, and nicotine.
- Interactions between environmental stressors and neural mechanisms in addiction.
- Cognitive and behavioral neuroscience approaches to understanding addiction.
- Translation of neuroscientific findings into clinical practices, including pharmacological, behavioral, and neuromodulation therapies.
- Sex differences in neural correlates of addiction.
- Neural changes due to addiction across the lifespan.
Keywords: addiction, neurobiology, neural mechanisms
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
