Russell Poldrack, a neurobiologist at the University of Texas at Austin. “The general machinery by which we build both kinds of habits are the same, whether it’s a habit for overeating or a habit for getting to work without really thinking about the details,” says Dr. This can set up potentially harmful routines, such as overeating, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, gambling and even compulsive use of computers and social media. Habits can also develop when good or enjoyable events trigger the brain’s “reward” centers. This frees up our brains to focus on different things. “When behaviors become automatic, it gives us an advantage, because the brain does not have to use conscious thought to perform the activity,” Volkow says. We can drive along familiar routes on mental auto-pilot without really thinking about the directions. “We wake up every morning, shower, comb our hair or brush our teeth without being aware of it,” Volkow says. They are a normal part of life, and are often helpful. “Understanding the biology of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us, and how to break those routines and embrace new ones, could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviors.”
Nora Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Habits play an important role in our health,” says Dr. And they’re developing strategies to help us make the changes we’d like to make.
They’ve found clues to why bad habits, once established, are so difficult to kick. They’ve studied what happens in our brains as habits form. NIH-funded scientists have been searching for answers. And many of us have unhealthy excess weight that we could lose if only we would eat right and exercise more. Drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up addictions that hurt their bodies and tear apart families and friendships. If you know something’s bad for you, why can’t you just stop? About 70% of smokers say they would like to quit.
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