Pleasure Map

[jporter]

Terribly interesting article in todays NY Times, Science Section: The
neuronal circuit involved in addiction- alcohol, coke, heroin, the pleasure
is all yours-  the same structures and the same interconnections forming
the same pleasure circuit is involved in mediating the addictive effects
all of these. It can be related to the same area in rats, which when
self-stimulated via electrode proves more appealing than food, water, etc.

So, at some time in the pre-dawn of consciousness, creatures became aware
that they were satisfied, instead of merely being satisfied (fed, hydrated,
etc.). Satiety became centralized, and handled by a separate circuit, i.e.,
the beginnings of a neuronal bureaucracy in charge of consciousness.

And you know those bureaucrats, for the right price...

Jody Porter