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Psychoactive drug use in evolutionary perspective

R M Nesse1, K C Berridge

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 5057 ISR, Post Office Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248, USA. nesse@umich.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 6, 1997
PubMed
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Psychoactive drugs bypass natural brain systems, creating addiction by mimicking fitness benefits or impairing defenses. Understanding emotion evolution is key to responsible drug use.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Psychoactive drugs and direct administration are novel environmental factors.
  • These substances bypass adaptive neurobiological systems controlling emotion and behavior.
  • This direct action on ancient brain mechanisms can be inherently pathogenic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the evolutionary basis of psychoactive drug effects.
  • To understand how drugs hijack emotion and incentive systems.
  • To inform decisions regarding psychoactive drug use.

Main Methods:

  • Evolutionary analysis of emotion and behavior.
  • Neurobiological examination of drug action on incentive mechanisms.
  • Review of drug effects on adaptive defense systems.

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Main Results:

  • Psychoactive drugs provide false signals of fitness benefits, leading to compulsive use.
  • Drugs blocking negative emotions can interfere with essential defense mechanisms.
  • Continued drug use may occur even when pleasure is diminished.

Conclusions:

  • A comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary origins and neural underpinnings of emotions is crucial.
  • This knowledge is essential for informed decision-making regarding the use of psychoactive drugs.
  • Future research should integrate evolutionary and neurobiological perspectives on drug action.