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What's Going On in Your Brain?
Home » Smoking Cessation » Science of Addiction » What's Going On in Your Brain?Neurons, or nerve cells, conducts electrical and chemical signals throughout the brain. And neurotransmitters, like dopamine or serotonin, are the chemical messengers that allow your brain cells to communicate. Once neurotransmitters are released, your brain's receptors are either excited or inhibited. Nicotine acts directly on those receptors, which results in increased and continued stimulation. The problem with cigarette addiction is that your brain gets used to having an outside substance stimulate your receptors and your brain stops doing the work for you. Moreover, nicotine affects your dopamine receptors, making you feel good. And, of course, once your brain feels good, it wants to continue feeling good, hence the cravings. Additionally, when you stop smoking, you experience withdrawal symptoms because your brain no longer provides the pleasurable stimulation -- the severity of withdrawal basically depends on the strength of the substance, the frequency of use, and the level of tolerance.
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