Researchers at the University of Cambridge believe connections developed in the brain between the ‘drug high’ of alcohol and the situations in which it’s used create loaded memories that unconsciously trigger cravings – often leading to relapse in alcoholics.
New research using rodent models reveals that drug treatment administered when a memory is forcibly surfaced permanently deletes the unconscious ‘cues’ that spark yearning for alcohol. With experimental medical trials expected to start in the near future, the research could revolutionise approaches to the treatment of chronic alcoholism and addiction to other drugs of abuse.
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Image: Wine drop Credit: Fabrizio Monti from Flickr
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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