Role of grey matter in addiction blog post converted into a PDF file. Please share if you find it interesting.

1. Role of Grey Matter in addiction
Posted by Into Action Treatment on July 22, 2015 in Articles, We Do Recover
One way to reduce the stigma of mental illness and addiction is to learn the biological processes related
to mental health. New research in neurology has led to a renewed interest in how the cognitive
processes of the brain are translated into behavior, particularly addiction.
The Brain: Grey Matter & White Matter
The brain is composed of two main structural parts; grey matter and white matter. Neurons or nerve
cells are the functional cells of the brain; the neurons are composed of two parts. The nucleus is the cell
body and dendrites, which are nerve fibers resembling branches. The nuclei of the cells make up the
grey matter, due to their pinkish grey color; the dendrites make up the white matter, due to their lack of
color. Grey matter is the processing area of brain, including the emotions, sensations and movement.
White matter’s main function is to establish communication between grey matter and other body parts.
Grey matter forms 40% of the brain while white matter constitutes the remaining 60%. Normal amount
of grey matter is essential for a healthy brain and loss of grey matter culminates in loss of many vital
functions.
Researchers have been studying how the brain changes over time with addiction since imaging
technology has been available, like PET, CT, and MRI. If the exact brain changes are known, then
addiction effects can be better understood and treated. The loss of cognitive functions, impaired
decision-making, disturbed emotional cycles, conflict management, impulsivity and reward appraisal
are the major behavioral changes seen with from drug and alcohol addiction. All of these cognitive
processes are the function of grey matter, so grey matter is the center of addiction research.
Some questions researchers are working to answer: How are these changes produced? Which part of
part is most affected by illicit drugs? What is the mechanism of abnormal thought process in addicted

2. individuals? If we come to know these answers then addiction treatment can become more precise and
effective; addiction may become a reversible phenomenon. How information is passed through the
brain’s chemical processes is not yet fully understood and there is lot more to discover.
Grey Matter and Addiction
Most studies conducted in this regard have shown the grey matter to be significantly affected.
Although, as of yet there is limited data, association of addiction with grey matter has been shown in
many studies. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the main tool used to compare the grey matter in
addicts with non-addicts. A recent study was done to measure the size of grey matter between cocaine
addicts, with an abstinence period of less than 25 months and those with an abstinence period of twelve
weeks to twenty-four years. MRI scans of all the participants showed that grey matter was directly
linked cocaine use; a decreased amount of grey matter was seen in those with short periods of cocaine
abstinence. It was shown that drug addicts do not exhibit feelings of reward upon praise or
encouragement. Their feelings of anxiety, anger, and deep depression are the result of the decreased
grey matter. In the control group, normal feeling of joy and appraisal were seen during the studies.
These studies show that prolonged use of drugs, like cocaine and heroin, are the main culprits of grey
matter loss. If the decrease in grey matter can be inhibited by intervention, then addiction treatment can
be revolutionized and severe symptoms can be avoided by medical therapy. Research still requires a lot
more research to overcome current limitations before medical treatments can be reality.