The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So GoodFrom the New York Times bestselling author comes a "hugely entertaining" (NPR.org) look at vice and virtue through cutting-edge science As he did in his award-winning book The Accidental Mind, David J. Linden—highly regarded neuroscientist, professor, and writer—weaves empirical science with entertaining anecdotes to explain how the gamut of behaviors that give us a buzz actually operates. The Compass of Pleasure makes clear why drugs like nicotine and heroin are addictive while LSD is not, how fast food restaurants ensure that diners will eat more, why some people cannot resist the appeal of a new sexual encounter, and much more. Provocative and illuminating, this is a radically new and thorough look at the desires that define us. |
Contents
CHAPTER | 27 |
CHAPTER THREE | 67 |
CHAPTER FOUR | 94 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 126 |
CHAPTER | 149 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 173 |
Prologue | 199 |
Your Sexy Brain | 207 |
Virtuous Pleasures and a Little Pain | 214 |
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The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise ... David J. Linden No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
action activation addiction alcohol animal appetite associated axons become behavior block body brain called cause cells centers changes cocaine cortex course discussed dopamine neurons doses drive drugs eating effects electrodes emotional engaged ether example exercise experience feel female Figure findings function gambling gene genetic given giving heroin human ideas images increase injected intense interesting involved Journal later learning leptin less levels light loss male mean measure medial forebrain memory monkeys Nature neural Neuroscience neurotransmitter nicotine nucleus accumbens obese orgasm pain particular patients pattern percent play pleasure circuit produced psychoactive rats received recent receptors reduced regions release reported response reward risk seconds seen sexual showed signals similar single social stimulation stress structure studies subjects suggests synapses tion trials trigger University voles weight women