Today's "Well, duh" story:
If you've ever wondered why it's hard to stay on a diet, consider this observation from Ralph DiLeone, a brain scientist at Yale University: "The motivation to take cocaine in the case of a drug addict is probably engaging similar circuits that the motivation to eat is in a hungry person."
That's what brain scientists have concluded after comparing studies of overeating with studies of drug addiction, DiLeone says.
They've also found that, at least in animals, sweet or fatty foods can act a lot like a drug in the brain, he says.
Why do you think they call it food, kid?
Comments
Gee, who'd a thunk it? A study like this drawing such shocking conclusions really reinforces your faith in our Ivy League Schools.
Golly, I hardly know what to say in the presence of such distinguished scientists as Leo and Tim. And making fun of Ivy League schools - that's always the sign of a really well-educated person.
I'm sure Snider High taught you everything you need to know about science, Tim.
Scholarship - what a waste! In fact, our country would be better off without schools.
Anti-intellectualism is our country's greatest gift to the world.
Well Littlejohn, Even as ill educated and anti-intellectual as you may find me, wouldn't you admit it's ironic that an Ivy League school professor would merit such notariety for publishing a study which draws the same basic conclusions as a 9th grade biology class?
And people thought Idiocracy was just a movie...
"That doesn't necessarily mean food is addictive the way cocaine is, DiLeone says, but he says there is growing evidence that eating a lot of certain foods early in life can alter your brain the way drugs do."
...
"And some of the changes didn't go away, even when the mice returned to a normal diet.
"So it is similar to what happens in cases of chronic drug abuse," Reyes says. "The reward circuitry changes in a similar way, and that promotes the seeking of that drug, or in our case, in seeking palatable food.""
A 9th grade biology class is doing new research into actual physical brain changes?
The conclusion isn't the important part, finding and understanding the exact *mechanisms* is. RTFA.
Then again, Leo's half-assed science reporting in search of a cheap laugh here isn't helping.
Michaelk42, you have a real problem with grasping the obvious don't you? One would have to assume, as much as you over analyze everything in search of finding an argument, it must take you an hour when deciding whether to turn left or right.
You crack me up, thanks!
The neuropeptide Y connection was obvious to you, Tim?
Do tell us more.
I'm a simple man Michaelk42, I tend to draw parallels and conclusions on similar things without the need of a doctoral thesis.
For instance, food, drugs & booze all affect your brain and by the time most kids reach 9th or 10th grade they've learned about that in a science, health or biology class.
Leo's post and my remarks simply point out the irony. Lighten up Francis.
Yeah, go take a bike ride on a county road :-)
But unlike you, actual scientists need to know a little more - so they can do things like make the drugs that affect that specific mechanism when it goes wrong.
And despite what Leo's lazy little copy/paste above shows, learning more about that specific mechanism is the actual point of the article.
Of course the real irony here is this: A couple of idiots like Larry and Tim making fun of something they don't understand being done by smart people, using the Internet... which is something they don't understand that was made by smart people.
XD
Anybody else out there feel like we're in the middle of an episode of Bob & Tom's "Mr. Obvious" series?
Anybody else going to admit to actually listening to Bob & Tom?
Yet, how appropriate. They'll have another show for your demographic eventually, Tim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_4jrMwvZ2A
Darn. I always thought my half-assed science reporting in search of a cheap laugh was one of my endearing traits.
:-)
But reading these and other threads, you can see this smirking, anti-intellectual attitude crop up. Those horse and buggy days always elicit fond memories!
AJ
"Anti-intellectual attitude? Boy, there's a criticism a conservative hardly ever hears!" he smirked.
Any merit to it at all? Or just la-la land liberals pining for pie in the sky?
AJ
Crap science reporting tends to happen anyway, intentional cheap laughs or not.
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174