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Neuroscience: Addiction as Learning - The Missing Link? — Prof. Marc Lewis

Professor Marc Lewis is a former Professor of Dev…

An episode of the The Weekend University podcast, hosted by Insights for Evolving Consciousness., titled "Neuroscience: Addiction as Learning - The Missing Link? — Prof. Marc Lewis" was published on April 17, 2025 and runs 62 minutes.

April 17, 2025 ·62m · The Weekend University

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Summary

Professor Marc Lewis is a former Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Toronto and a world leading expert in the neuroscience of addiction. It was particularly interesting to speak with Marc because not only does he have a deep understanding of the neural mechanisms underneath addictive processes, he also has battled with quite severe opioid addictions himself. He is the author of two bestselling books on the subject: Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, and The Biology of Desire. Now, he works as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, specialising in addiction treatment. You’ll learn: — How Marc’s experiences as a developmental psychologist helped him to develop his groundbreaking learning model of addiction — A simple introduction to the neuroscience of addiction and the brain areas involved — Why it’s hard to stop an addictive pattern once it has taken hold — What works (and what doesn’t) in recovery. And more. You can learn more about Marc’s innovative work by visiting: www.memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com --- Prof Marc Lewis, PhD is a neuroscientist, professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on the neuroscience of addiction. In his academic work, he has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles, and for many years was a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Toronto and then Radboud University (Netherlands) before retiring. For the last decade, he has focused on making his work more accessible to a wider audience through books for lay readers, pop science articles, public talks, and interviews. He is the author of two bestselling books on addiction: “Memoirs of an Addicted Brain” and “The Biology of Desire”, a book which Dr Gabor Mate argues “effectively refutes the disease model of addiction.” He is currently practicing psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, working with clients with addictive problems and other difficulties. You can learn more about his work at www.memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com. --- 6 Books Prof Lewis Recommends for Every Therapist Should Read: — Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear —Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/44MnKfG — High Price: Drugs, Neuroscience, and Discovering Myself — Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/3Kt8YmH — Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction — Szalavitz Maia - https://amzn.to/3NS0p5q — Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp - https://amzn.to/3NWYaOt — The Night of the Gun — David Carr - https://amzn.to/44SHYod — The Biology of Desire: why addiction is not a disease (The Addicted Brain) —Prof Marc Lewis - https://amzn.to/44QYpBl

Episode Description

Professor Marc Lewis is a former Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Toronto and a world leading expert in the neuroscience of addiction. It was particularly interesting to speak with Marc because not only does he have a deep understanding of the neural mechanisms underneath addictive processes, he also has battled with quite severe opioid addictions himself. He is the author of two bestselling books on the subject: Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, and The Biology of Desire. Now, he works as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, specialising in addiction treatment. You’ll learn: — How Marc’s experiences as a developmental psychologist helped him to develop his groundbreaking learning model of addiction — A simple introduction to the neuroscience of addiction and the brain areas involved — Why it’s hard to stop an addictive pattern once it has taken hold — What works (and what doesn’t) in recovery. And more. You can learn more about Marc’s innovative work by visiting: www.memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com --- Prof Marc Lewis, PhD is a neuroscientist, professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on the neuroscience of addiction. In his academic work, he has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles, and for many years was a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Toronto and then Radboud University (Netherlands) before retiring. For the last decade, he has focused on making his work more accessible to a wider audience through books for lay readers, pop science articles, public talks, and interviews. He is the author of two bestselling books on addiction: “Memoirs of an Addicted Brain” and “The Biology of Desire”, a book which Dr Gabor Mate argues “effectively refutes the disease model of addiction.” He is currently practicing psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, working with clients with addictive problems and other difficulties. You can learn more about his work at www.memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com. --- 6 Books Prof Lewis Recommends for Every Therapist Should Read: — Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear —Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/44MnKfG — High Price: Drugs, Neuroscience, and Discovering Myself — Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/3Kt8YmH — Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction — Szalavitz Maia - https://amzn.to/3NS0p5q — Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp - https://amzn.to/3NWYaOt — The Night of the Gun — David Carr - https://amzn.to/44SHYod — The Biology of Desire: why addiction is not a disease (The Addicted Brain) —Prof Marc Lewis - https://amzn.to/44QYpBl

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