This section groups together the studies on novelty activating the reward circuit and on novelty-seeking personalities. It is possible to associate certain personality traits, such as impulsiveness, with an increased chance of having an addiction. Risk-takers and those with impulse-control challenges are in this category. Both traits appear to be related to dopamine release and receptor levels. Risk-takers release more dopamine for novelty, and people characterised by impulsiveness have lower levels of dopamine (D2) receptors.
This section contains both lay articles for the general public, and research articles. If you are not an expert in addiction, I suggest starting with the lay articles. They start with an “L.”
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