Why do we become addicted? The neurobiology of reward and addiction

Why are some people more vulnerable to addiction than others? Does it depend on willpower, genetics, or the way our brains work? In this lesson, we will journey into the brain's reward and motivation system, explore how addictive substances take control of our decision-making, and learn why addiction is a brain disease rather than a matter of character.

The centerpiece of the lesson is the card game "What's the Deal?", developed by BrainU (University of Notre Dame) based on materials from the NIH. Students will take on the role of participants in a scientific experiment and discover how genes and environmental factors influence susceptibility to addiction. The results of the game will serve as a starting point for a discussion about what we really know about addiction. The lesson will also include interactive simulations from learn.genetics.utah.edu, including "Mouse Party," which demonstrates what happens in the brain under the influence of different substances.

The lesson is led by a PhD researcher from the Laboratory of Neuroplasticity at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences. The session will be conducted in English.