Drug and Alcohol Addiction Studies that Contribute to Food Addiction

In a progression similar to that of the development of our understanding of the neurology of eating, scientists have uncovered the neurological basis for drug and alcohol addiction.  The neurology centers around the over stimulation of the brain’s own opiate and dopamine pathways.  These pathways have been identified through MRI studies, animal probes, and medications that either stimulate or block the functioning of particular neurochemicals.  One key finding that is also found in the obese, is the presence diminished dopamine fields in addicts.  This finding leads to the hypothesis that small dopamine fields are linked to a propensity to develop addiction. 

The neurology of addiction is also a large body of literature.  This bibliography contains only review articles that develop understanding of a larger body of studies.