Addiction & Recovery

Less neuroticism and more extroversion may be at the root of patients' improvement

Discovering why even bad habits can protect the brain

Scientists suggest that some psychedelics are remarkably good at treating disorders like depression—and may now have a clue as to why

Two new gambling studies redefine the "poker face" and peer inside the betting brain, helping researchers understand risk-taking behavior and decision-making

Sometimes we forget where a story really starts. Are electric cars new? Where did malaria start? Who invented spaghetti? Read on, for the surprising origins of many strange and familiar things

Brain scans illuminate the internal connection among the neurotransmitter, impulsiveness and addiction

By pretending to be sick, people can convince themselves they really are

People with a particular variant of a dopamine receptor were more likely to drink more after watching other people drink heavily. Karen Hopkin reports

Innovation and discovery as chronicled in past issues of Scientific American

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Alcoholics Anonymous continues to lead addicts to sobriety as long as they stick with it for the long haul. Christie Nicholson reports