Submission + - Brain Damage Cures Smoking Addiction
gurps_npc writes: A New York Time Story (free today, may require sign in tomorrow) discusses a recent discovery that strokes to a certain part of the brain instantly end addiction to cigarettes.
While they pretend that no one would want to intentionally damage that part of the brain, I disagree. Lots of people want to stop smoking so bad they would accept minor brain damage to do it. (From "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", best quote: "Technically, this procedure IS brain damage.")
The scientists found that damaging that particular area does not affect eating. The study was small (they had to find people that used to smoke that had a stroke, not give smokers a stroke), and did not examine other addictions.
Today, people that are so obese they have health problems engage in dangerous surgery to help reduce their weight, from liposuction to stomache stapling. It would not surprise me if in 10 or 20 years smokers had a nuerosurgeon burn out this part of their brain.
While they pretend that no one would want to intentionally damage that part of the brain, I disagree. Lots of people want to stop smoking so bad they would accept minor brain damage to do it. (From "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", best quote: "Technically, this procedure IS brain damage.")
The scientists found that damaging that particular area does not affect eating. The study was small (they had to find people that used to smoke that had a stroke, not give smokers a stroke), and did not examine other addictions.
Today, people that are so obese they have health problems engage in dangerous surgery to help reduce their weight, from liposuction to stomache stapling. It would not surprise me if in 10 or 20 years smokers had a nuerosurgeon burn out this part of their brain.